GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz (Fla.) accused Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) of “screwing all Americans” over last week’s reports that Burr dumped more than $1.7 million in stocks shortly after a January briefing on the coronavirus outbreak.
Gaetz took to social media to slam the senator for allegedly selling his stocks before the markets tanked while simultaneously reassuring the public.
The Florida Republican argued that if former Rep. Katie Hill (D-Calif.) had to resign following a sex scandal with a staffer, Burr should be held accountable for his actions.
“This is not fair,” Gaetz said.
Hill stepped down from her seat in October shortly after the House Ethics Committee launched an investigation into allegations that she had violated House rules by engaging in an inappropriate sexual relationship with a staffer in her office. The California Democrat denied the allegation, but apologized for having a separate relationship with a campaign staffer.
Burr is one of four senators who sold at least hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of stock following the Jan. 24 classified briefings, with critics questioning whether the lawmakers were violating the STOCK Act, which bars senators from trading using classified information.
Burr denied any wrongdoing and has called on the Senate Ethics Committee to launch an investigation into the sales.
Wall Street deepened its dismal coronavirus-related slide on Monday, shedding the last of the gains made since President Trump was elected.