WASHINGTON, D.C. 5/14/2020 7:21am(est)
The FBI has seized the cell phone of Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., pursuant to a search warrant as part of an investigation of possible insider reading on Burr’s part. On Wednesday night federal agents obtained Burr’s cell phone. A move some say indicates an escalation of the Justice Department’s investigation into the stock trades.
The Los Angeles Times (@latimes) was first to break the big story last night via Twitter. The Times reported that Burr turned over his phone to agents after they served a warrant at his Washington-area residence, according to an unnamed law enforcement official. A spokesman for the Senator declined to comment on the issue, as did a spokesperson for the Justice Department.
Senator Burr chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee. He faced calls to resign back in March after reports surfaced that he privately warned well connected donors of the dire impacts of the Coronavirus pandemic in February while selling off up to $1.6 million of his own stocks. In March, Burr said he relied on public news reports, not inside information from his role on the Senate Committee to make his decision to sell off most of his stocks right before the public and stock market became aware of the effects the Coronavirus would have on the economy and stock market.
