An old report is putting fresh scrutiny on Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) after his timely purchase of stock in a little-known biotech firm, Humacyte, has more than doubled in value since he bought it.
Humacyte develops lab-grown human tissues used to treat combat injuries — and it’s been testing that technology on the ground in Ukraine, a country receiving billions in U.S. aid. That detail becomes especially notable given Tuberville’s seat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, which oversees U.S. military policy and foreign defense funding.
What makes this trade stand out even more is that Tuberville appears to be the only member of Congress trading Humacyte shares. The company is small, obscure, and rarely traded by major investors — yet since Tuberville’s purchase, its stock has risen over 100 percent.
While there’s no direct proof of insider activity, ethics experts warn that the appearance of special access can be just as damaging to public trust. Tuberville has previously drawn attention for delayed disclosures and other trading controversies, adding to calls for a total ban on individual stock trading by lawmakers.
Critics say that when senators with defense influence make profitable trades tied to wartime medical technology, it blurs the line between public service and private gain. Whether legal or not, Tuberville’s Humacyte investment is becoming another flashpoint in Washington’s ongoing debate over ethics, transparency, and accountability.