FBI agents have seized Senator Richard Burr's cell phone and served a search warrant at his Washington, D.C.-area residence. This comes as authorities investigate stock sales Burr made in February.
Burr turned over his cell phone to agents on Wednesday night. The News and Observer cites media reports that the Justice Department is examining Burr's communications with his broker.
The North Carolina Republican sold $1.7 million in stocks in early and mid-February, according to his own Senate disclosure statement. As a member of the Senate health committee, Burr had previously received briefings on a potential coronavirus outbreak.
Burr has said he made the decision to sell stocks based on publicly available media reports.
Burr, who is chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, had also warned a small group of well-connected constituents to prepare for dire economic and societal effects of the virus. Around the same time, the senator was reassuring the public that the country was well-prepared to handle any emerging public health threats.
Burr is serving his third term in the U.S. Senate and has said he will not seek re-election in 2022.
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