Insider trading — or trading stocks using non-public knowledge to gain an advantage — is supposed to be a big no-no for investors. It’s something Securities and Exchange rules make it clear, as will any competent securities lawyer. When non-public but material knowledge of what is happening in a company make significant profits, that happens on the backs of ordinary stock owners who don’t have the same information. For each winner in a trade there’s going to be a loser.

How frequently does it happen? Well, 78 members of Congress apparently violated a law that the legislative branch itself helped create to prevent potentially shady stock trading by politicians, according to a report by Business Insider. Excuses included “ignorance of the law, clerical errors, and mistakes by an accountant.” READ MORE