Republican Senator for North Carolina Richard Burr, who also chairs the Senate Intelligence Commission, knew three weeks ago that the United States would be hit hard by the corona virus. Publicly, he continued to pursue Donald Trump’s denial strategy, meanwhile selling millions in shares.
In late February, the US had 15 confirmed corona infections, and Trump said the virus would go away on its own. On the same day, Richard Burr addressed an exclusive group of business people over lunch saying that “the virus is much more aggressive than we have seen in the recent past.” Recordings made by someone during that speech have come into the hands of the American broadcaster NPR.
“Every company needs to be aware that planned travel needs to be adjusted and looking at travel to Europe is essential or not,” Burr said on February 27. Burr also warned at the closed meeting that schools may need to close and that the military may need to be deployed to fight the corona virus.
Fifteen days later, Trump decided that all passenger air travel from Europe should no longer enter the country, and all schools in North Carolina closed. Publicly, Burr never contradicted his Republican president, saying above all that America was well prepared to deal with the virus.
Burr, as chairman of the Senate Intelligence Commission, was briefed daily from mid-February on the spread of the coronavirus. Around that time, he sold up to $ 1.7 million (1.6 million euros) in 33 transactions in one day, the journalistic research platform knew ProPublica to find out. A week after the sale, the shares started to fall in value.
Follow the latest developments around the virus in us live blog.
The coronavirus in short
- The coronavirus mainly spreads through sneezes and cough drops. The virus can be transmitted directly from person to person or (for a limited time) through surfaces such as door handles.
- An infected person infects two to three others on average. Precautions are necessary to contain this.
- The vast majority of patients have mild (flu-like) complaints.
- Nearly all deaths involve the elderly or other frail, such as heart, lung or diabetes patients. If everyone complies with the measures, this reduces their risks.
- Read here what precautions you should take.
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