Sen. resists calls to quit over stock-trade timing
Sen. Richard Burr pushed back against growing calls to quit Friday over his massive sale of stock after he learned of the severity of the coronavirus crisis — and the scandal could impact the fight for control of the Senate.
The North Carolina Republican was slammed by conservative commentator Tucker Carlson and a chorus of pundits and ordinary Amens for profiteering off the pandemic and a source close to President Trump said he wants him to quit.
Burr, who dumped up to $1.7 million in stocks, asked the Senate Ethics Committee Friday to investigate whether his actions were improper or illegal.
He did not say he was considering stepping down.
Trump called Burr and three other senators who sold stock after the coronavirus crisis spread are “honorable people” and ignored a question about whether he should resign.
He struck a partisan tone by only naming Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California and sparring with a reporter who asked about Burr and Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-Georgia)
If Burr quits, Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper would appoint a replacement who would serve until the November
general election, but it would have to be a Republican.
North Carolina’s other senator, Thom Tillis, is already facing a battle for reelection against Democrat Cal Cunningham.
If Burr’s seat were also up for grabs, it could dramatically improve the odds of Democrats seizing control of the Senate in November.
Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.) also sold significant amounts of stock since hearing about the coronavirus crisis, but his transactions were not big enough to trigger mandatory disclosure, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.
Perdue insisted he did nothing wrong.
Burr was one of just three senators to vote against a 2012 law banning lawmakers from trading on information they received through their official capacities.
Loeffler, James Inhofe (ROkla.) and Ron Johnson (RWisc.) were also identified as selling large amounts of stock along with Feinstein.
Feinstein said that her assets are in a blind trust and she plays no role in the investment decisions.
Johnson said through a spokesman that the transaction was a sale of stock in a plastics company that was planned long before the coronavirus crisis.
Loeffler called the claims “ridiculous and baseless.”