- Piedmont Rising
North Carolinians Urge Tillis to Support Federal Investigation of Burr
Updated: Apr 16, 2020
North Carolinians Urge Tillis to Support Federal Investigation of Burr
Senator Burr once again faces ethics questions, this time over donor’s purchase of his D.C. townhouse
Raleigh, N.C. – Piedmont Rising Executive Director Casey Wilkinson released the following statement after it was reported that Senate Intelligence Chairman Burr sold his Capitol Hill townhouse to one of his donors — who had business before Burr’s committee — potentially above market value:
“As Senator Burr continues to violate the public’s trust, it’s past time for Senator Tillis to support a federal investigation into Burr. A Senate Ethics Committee review is simply not enough, and neither are vague calls for accountability. We need to know that Senators Burr and Tillis are prioritizing making critically-needed health care affordable for working families – rather than profiting off a crisis. The best way to ensure accountability now is for Senator Tillis to put aside partisan loyalties and call for a federal investigation into Senator Burr’s disturbing and potentially illegal actions.”
Background
This week, ethics questions surrounding the actions of embattled U.S. Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina have expanded to include questions about the 2017 sale of a townhouse in Washington, D.C.
This latest scandal comes after ProPublica reported Senator Burr sold between $628,000 and $1.72 million of stock a week before the market crashed, while at the same time reassuring the public about the coronavirus. Federal authorities are reportedly scrutinizing those trades, and the FBI has contacted him. Burr has denied allegations of insider trading, saying that he based his decisions solely on public information, including CNBC reports, and not on information he obtained as chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee or as a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.
Sen. Thom Tillis declined to say whether his North Carolina colleague, Sen. Richard Burr, should step down as chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee.
According to a recent poll, 50 percent of North Carolina voters believe Burr should resign.
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Jessica Coscia
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About Piedmont Rising
Piedmont Rising is a 501 (c)4 issue advocacy organization built by and for North Carolinians to advocate for lower insurance premiums and prescription drug costs and to ensure that more people have access to safe and affordable health care. Through grassroots organizing, education, and engagement, we are amplifying our health care stories and holding our elected officials accountable to the people, and issues they were elected to represent. www.piedmontrising.org