Senate Democrats seek investigation of Robinhood online brokerage app 

Senate Democrats on Sunday called for stronger stock market regulations as well as Senate investigations into Robinhood, an online brokerage app popular with young and amateur investors, after it acted to halt trades on GameStop stocks amid frenzied sales.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, speaking during a Manhattan news conference Sunday, called on Senate committees to investigate Robinhood’s decision.

"The markets only work when … the average investor has a fair chance and actions in recent days call that into question," Schumer said. "What happened in the markets in the last few days is really messed up. We have many so many questions that must be answered and must be answered immediately."

The company received fierce blowback for its decision to halt trades on GameStop and other stocks for many customers. However, critics said that by blocking customers' access to trading, hedge fund investors still had access on a more limited basis.

"An effort to manipulate or restrict access to the markets to seemingly give an advantage to the wealthiest investors would be reprehensible," Schumer said. "We need the playing field not to be tilted against average folks."

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has already said it would investigate. Schumer said relevant Senate committees should conduct separate investigations.

Also Sunday, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said on CNN that the episode explains the need for "more regulation about market manipulation."

"What's happening with GameStop is just a reminder of what's been going on, on Wall Street now for years and years and years. It's a rigged game. And it's been a set of players who come in and manipulate the market. They have turned this stock market not into a place where you get capital formation to support businesses, but more into a casino."

Warren said, "The SEC has some pending rules on stock manipulation. They need a broader look at how companies, how hedge funds manipulate the market, and then they need to put rules in place to stop it and grow a backbone to enforce those rules."

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, said on ABC's "This Week" that he has "long believed that the business model of Wall Street is flawed. I think we have to take a very hard look at the kind of illegal activities and outrageous behavior on the part of the hedge funds and other Wall Street players."

By Scott Eidler

scott.eidler@newsday.com,rachelle.blidner@newsday.com@ScottEidler,

Scott Eidler covers Nassau County government and politics for Newsday. Scott has worked at Newsday since 2012 and previously covered municipal government and education.