Burr steps down as Intel committee chairman

 

 

 

This Richard Burr-stock market story has grown some legs and really picked up some traction:

 

U.S. Sen. Richard Burr is stepping down as chairman of the Senate Intelligence committee as a federal probe of his financial activities in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic heats up.

 

The Justice Department searched the North Carolina Republican’s Washington, D.C., home on Wednesday and seized his cellphone.

 

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said in a statement Thursday that Burr “contacted me this morning to inform me of his decision to step aside as Chairman of the Intelligence Committee during the pendency of the investigation.

 

“We agreed that this decision would be in the best interests of the committee and will be effective at the end of the day [Friday],” McConnell said.

 

“The work the Intelligence Committee and its members do is too important to risk hindering in any way,” Burr said in a statement. “I believe this step is necessary to allow the committee to continue its essential work free of external distractions.” […]