U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz has sent a letter to Democratic challenger J.D. Ford demanding that his campaign correct or remove statements on its website about her stock trading, financial disclosures and congressional record.

The Sept. 18 letter calls the statements “blatantly false and materially misleading” and says several “concern objectively verifiable facts” contradicted by public records. A second letter, dated the same day and addressed “To Whom It May Concern,” asks recipients to “independently review and verify” any paid advertising containing the claims before running it. Both letters were copied to attorney Jason B. Torchinsky.

The disputed statements appear on the “Media Kit” page of Ford’s campaign website. The page says Spartz “traded $5 million in stocks in industries she regulated while in Congress” and “fought against reforms that would stop members of Congress from insider trading.” It says voters “should see districtwide on broadcast (Indianapolis), OTT/CTV streaming, and digital and read in the mailbox” that Spartz is “everything Hoosiers have come to hate about Washington.”

Stock ownership

Spartz wrote that she has “NEVER personally owned – much less traded – ANY individual stocks.” She said the transactions cited by Ford were made in the retirement account of her husband, Jason Spartz. According to the letter, the account held cash from farmland sales before she entered Congress and invested it in Simon Property Group stock in 2021 while waiting to buy additional farmland.

A House periodic transaction report enclosed with the letter lists a Sept. 20, 2024, partial sale of Simon stock by Jason Spartz’s Roth IRA. The sale is reported in the $1,000,001 to $5,000,000 disclosure range. Spartz said the sale was “substantially less than $5 million” and paid for farmland purchased at a public auction.

Her 2024 annual disclosure report lists a farmland purchase by his Roth IRA on Oct. 28, 2024. The same report shows the account holding Simon stock valued at $500,001 to $1,000,000 at year’s end. It also lists Simon holdings in two minor Roth IRAs held for the couple’s children.

Committees and reform

Spartz disputed that she traded in industries she regulated. She wrote that she has served only on the House Judiciary Committee and the House Education and Labor Committee.

On stock-trading reform, Spartz cited her July 22 vote for H.R. 7008, the Stop Insider Trading Act. According to the House roll call, the bill passed 232-198. All 218 Republicans and one independent voted yes. Democrats opposed it 198-13.

Ford’s website says, “For years, she refused to sign onto efforts that would have banned members of Congress from insider trading.”

Disclosure

Spartz wrote that an earlier media report “misunderstood or misrepresented” a transaction. She said the House Ethics Committee confirmed the filing was compliant. The letter does not identify the media report, and the enclosed materials do not include the committee’s confirmation.

The 2024 transaction report Spartz provided was filed Nov. 4, 2024, 45 days after the sale.

Spartz also rejected the claim that she used her office to get rich. She wrote that her financial position “has not materially changed” as a result of her service.

Debate request

Ford’s website also says insurance and pharmaceutical companies flooded Spartz’s campaign with money and that she took contributions from Big Tech and data center companies. Spartz called those claims “blatantly inaccurate.” She wrote that she announced years ago she would not accept Big Tech contributions, but said those issues “are better debated publicly.”

She asked Ford to agree to a debate on health care, Big Tech and data centers. She also asked him to confirm in writing that the disputed statements have been corrected or removed.

“I expressly reserve all rights and remedies available under applicable law,” Spartz wrote.

Indy Politics has reached out to the Ford campaign for comment. This story will be updated.