Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

FBI Serves Search Warrant to Republican Senator Accused of Insider Trading After Selling Stocks Ahead of Pandemic

FBI Serves Search Warrant to Republican Senator Accused of Insider Trading After Selling Stocks Ahead of Pandemic
ANDREW HARNIK/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Republican Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) was served a warrant by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to search the contents of his phone and cloud storage in an effort to determine whether or not Burr committed insider trading.

The scrutiny comes after Burr, the Senate Intelligence committee Chairman, sold 33 stocks worth between $628,033 and $1.72 million as the Senate Intel Committee received daily classified briefings on the virus. Many of the businesses whose shares he sold were in industries hardest hit by the pandemic.


Even as Burr assured Americans in an op-ed piece that the United States was more prepared than ever for the looming pandemic, Burr sold the bulk of his shares in February just before audio leaked of him warning donors that the impact of the virus would be severe.

Burr insists that he's relied only on public news reports to determine the selling of his stock and a spokesperson for Burr has declined to comment on the warrant for his phone.

People applauded the escalation in pursuit of Burr's accountability.



But here's the thing: Burr isn't the only Senator who suspiciously sold stocks.

His Republican colleague, Senator Kelly Loeffler of Georgia, also sold millions of dollars worth of stocks after she received classified briefings on the virus. Loeffler even invested in telework companies after the briefings—an industry that would boom as more and more Americans were required to work from home.

Oddly enough, Loeffler hasn't yet faced the same scrutiny from the FBI as Burr now has. People have an idea as to why.

Like many Republican lawmakers, Loeffler is unwaveringly loyal to President Donald Trump. Though Burr votes along ideological lines with Trump around 90 percent of the time, Burr's actions in the Senate Intelligence Committee have been a thorn in Trump's side.

It was Burr, as Intel Committee chairman, who signed off on the subpoena of Donald Trump Jr. regarding his enthusiastic response to emails from Russian government officials claiming to have information on Hillary Clinton.

The committee's investigation would culminate in yet another report confirming that the Russian government attempted to influence the 2016 presidential election in favor of Donald Trump, and solidify Burr's sullied reputation among Republicans for not defending the leader.

Some are beginning to wonder if that's why the FBI is publicly going after Burr, but not after Loeffler...yet.





The move comes as the Trump administration sows conspiracy theories about Obama's exploitation of the FBI for his political and personal benefit.

This swamp is murkier than ever.

For a deeper look into the threats posed by Trump's presidency, check out A Very Stable Genius, available here.

More from People/donald-trump

Hillary Clinton
Kimberly White/Getty Images for Common Sense Media

Hillary Clinton Has Iconic Reaction To Trump Administration's 'Atlantic' Text Scandal

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had a succinct response after Jeffrey Goldberg—the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic—revealed he was invited into a Signal chat with high-level Trump administration officials discussing military strategy surrounding their war strikes in Yemen.

Goldberg revealed a highly unusual and concerning situation where senior Trump administration officials were allegedly discussing war plans over a group chat on Signal. Goldberg recounted that Representative Mike Waltz added him to an 18-person group chat, which he initially suspected was a hoax or disinformation campaign.

Keep ReadingShow less
Vivian Jenna Wilson; Elon Musk
@vivllainous/TikTok; Samuel Corum/Getty Images

Elon Musk's Trans Daughter Epically Claps Back After Musk Claims His Child 'Died'

Elon Musk's estranged trans daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, used an iconic soundbite from RuPaul's Drag Race to clap back at Musk's claim that his child had "died."

The SpaceX co-founder responded to a post on X (formerly Twitter) defending Musk for appearing to give the Nazi salute twice at Republican President Donald Trump's inauguration.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots of Mike Myers and Mark Carney
@MarkJCarney/X

Mike Myers Joins Canada's New Prime Minister For Epic Jab At Trump In Viral Video

Actor and comedian Mike Myers has gone viral after joining Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney for a video message that mocks President Donald Trump and his plan to make Canada the 51st state of the United States.

In the Liberal Party skit, Mike Myers and Mark Carney—both dressed in red Canada jerseys—share a moment at a hockey practice. Carney starts off skeptical of Myers, questioning his Canadian credentials since he now lives in the United States, despite being born and raised in Canada.

Keep ReadingShow less
Pete Buttigieg
Alex Wong/Getty Images

Pete Buttigieg Drops F-Bombs After Trump Administration Invites Journalist Into High-Level Military Group Chat

Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg passionately spoke out after Jeffrey Goldberg—the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic—revealed he was invited into a Signal chat with high-level Trump administration officials discussing military strategy surrounding their war strikes in Yemen.

Goldberg revealed a highly unusual and concerning situation where senior Trump administration officials were allegedly discussing war plans over a group chat on Signal. Goldberg recounted that Representative Mike Waltz added him to an 18-person group chat, which he initially suspected was a hoax or disinformation campaign.

Keep ReadingShow less
Donald Trump with Easter bunny at 2017 Easter egg roll
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

Trump Blasted After Turning Annual White House Easter Tradition Into Corporate Grift

President Donald Trump has sparked concerns from ethics experts after soliciting corporate sponsors for the annual White House Easter Egg Roll.

Potential sponsors of the April 21 event were presented with three sponsorship options ranging from $75,000 to $200,000, according to a nine-page guide reviewed by The New York Times.

Keep ReadingShow less