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risky biz
Mar 19, 2020, 7:44:46 PM3/19/20
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'Intelligence Chairman Raised Virus Alarms Weeks Ago, Secret Recording Shows
The chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee warned a small group of well-connected constituents three weeks ago to prepare for dire economic and societal effects of the coronavirus, according to a secret recording obtained by NPR.
The remarks from U.S. Sen. Richard Burr were more stark than any he had delivered in more public forums.
On Feb. 27, when the United States had 15 confirmed cases of COVID-19, President Trump was tamping down fears and suggesting that the virus could be seasonal.
"It's going to disappear. One day, it's like a miracle. It will disappear," the president said then, before adding, "it could get worse before it gets better. It could maybe go away. We'll see what happens."
On that same day, Burr attended a luncheon held at a social club called the Capitol Hill Club. And he delivered a much more alarming message.
"There's one thing that I can tell you about this: It is much more aggressive in its transmission than anything that we have seen in recent history," he said, according to a secret recording of the remarks obtained by NPR. "It is probably more akin to the 1918 pandemic."
The luncheon had been organized by the Tar Heel Circle, a nonpartisan group whose membership consists of businesses and organizations in North Carolina, the state Burr represents. Membership to join the Tar Heel Circle costs between $500 and $10,000 and promises that members "enjoy interaction with top leaders and staff from Congress, the administration, and the private sector," according to the group's website.
In attendance, according to a copy of the RSVP list obtained by NPR, were dozens of invited guests representing companies and organizations from North Carolina. And according to federal records, those companies or their political committees donated more than $100,000 to Burr's election campaign in 2015 and 2016.
The message Burr delivered to the group was dire.
Burr has a unique perspective on the government's response to a pandemic, and not just because of his role as Intelligence Committee chairman. He helped to write the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA), which forms the framework for the federal response.
But in his public comments about the threat of COVID-19, Burr never offered the kind of precise warning that he delivered to the small group of his constituents.
But despite his longtime interest in biohazard threats, his expertise on the subject, and his role as chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Burr did not warn the public of the government actions he thought might become necessary, as he did at the luncheon on Feb. 27.'
https://www.npr.org/2020/03/19/818192535/burr-recording-sparks-questions-about-private-comments-on-covid-19
The chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee warned a small group of well-connected constituents three weeks ago to prepare for dire economic and societal effects of the coronavirus, according to a secret recording obtained by NPR.
The remarks from U.S. Sen. Richard Burr were more stark than any he had delivered in more public forums.
On Feb. 27, when the United States had 15 confirmed cases of COVID-19, President Trump was tamping down fears and suggesting that the virus could be seasonal.
"It's going to disappear. One day, it's like a miracle. It will disappear," the president said then, before adding, "it could get worse before it gets better. It could maybe go away. We'll see what happens."
On that same day, Burr attended a luncheon held at a social club called the Capitol Hill Club. And he delivered a much more alarming message.
"There's one thing that I can tell you about this: It is much more aggressive in its transmission than anything that we have seen in recent history," he said, according to a secret recording of the remarks obtained by NPR. "It is probably more akin to the 1918 pandemic."
The luncheon had been organized by the Tar Heel Circle, a nonpartisan group whose membership consists of businesses and organizations in North Carolina, the state Burr represents. Membership to join the Tar Heel Circle costs between $500 and $10,000 and promises that members "enjoy interaction with top leaders and staff from Congress, the administration, and the private sector," according to the group's website.
In attendance, according to a copy of the RSVP list obtained by NPR, were dozens of invited guests representing companies and organizations from North Carolina. And according to federal records, those companies or their political committees donated more than $100,000 to Burr's election campaign in 2015 and 2016.
The message Burr delivered to the group was dire.
Burr has a unique perspective on the government's response to a pandemic, and not just because of his role as Intelligence Committee chairman. He helped to write the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA), which forms the framework for the federal response.
But in his public comments about the threat of COVID-19, Burr never offered the kind of precise warning that he delivered to the small group of his constituents.
But despite his longtime interest in biohazard threats, his expertise on the subject, and his role as chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Burr did not warn the public of the government actions he thought might become necessary, as he did at the luncheon on Feb. 27.'
https://www.npr.org/2020/03/19/818192535/burr-recording-sparks-questions-about-private-comments-on-covid-19
risky biz
Mar 20, 2020, 3:43:43 AM3/20/20
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Two Republican lawmakers are under intense scrutiny as reports show Sens. Richard Burr and Kelly Loeffler sold millions in stock before the coronavirus ...
Fox News
popinjay
Mar 20, 2020, 3:59:43 AM3/20/20
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Someone told me her husband is head of the NYSE? Is that true? Are you fucking kidding me?
risky biz
Mar 20, 2020, 2:45:38 PM3/20/20
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'In 2004, Loeffler married Intercontinental Exchange founder and CEO Jeffrey Sprecher.[9] They reside in Tuxedo Park, Atlanta,[38] in a $10.5 million 15,000-square-foot (1,400 m2) estate named Descante, bought in the most expensive real estate transaction ever recorded in Atlanta.'
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelly_Loeffler#Personal_life
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intercontinental_Exchange
BTSinAustin
Mar 20, 2020, 3:57:03 PM3/20/20
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risky biz
Mar 20, 2020, 7:35:12 PM3/20/20
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https://news.google.com/search?q=dianne%20feinstein%20stock%20sale&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US%3Aen
She's a Republican, anyway
popinjay
Mar 20, 2020, 7:44:57 PM3/20/20
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VegasJerry
Mar 21, 2020, 11:42:22 AM3/21/20
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risky biz
Mar 21, 2020, 12:49:58 PM3/21/20
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VegasJerry
Mar 21, 2020, 1:31:03 PM3/21/20
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No denial noted.....
> a Republican president, Jerry. Did you vote for Bernie Sanders in the primary/caucus?
risky biz
Mar 21, 2020, 3:02:37 PM3/21/20
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Maybe you deserve a Republican president. You think I'm obligated to go vote for a diluted Republican with a 'D' next to his name?
VegasJerry
Mar 22, 2020, 11:24:55 AM3/22/20
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No, you thought there was a Nevada Primary because you asked me if I voted for Bernie in our primary. Then I pointed and laughed at you for it, showing that you apparently don't even vote. So you dodged with:
> Jerry. Did you vote for Bernie Sanders in the primary/caucus?
You'd better run from this thread; you're only getting yourself stuck deeper in a tar baby of your own making..
risky biz
Mar 22, 2020, 2:50:52 PM3/22/20
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Just sit at home letting the news media tell you who the backstabbing Democratic Party royalty has decided you should vote for. What a waste.
VegasJerry
Mar 22, 2020, 5:55:57 PM3/22/20
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I told you you'd get stuck further in your tar baby of lies and dodges.
Learn to lose.
> > > Jerry. Did you vote for Bernie Sanders in the primary/caucus?
> > LOL again. We don't have "primary/caucus." Christ, I was right. You're simply one of those that don't even vote.
risky biz
Mar 22, 2020, 11:06:05 PM3/22/20
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Did you vote for Bernie Sanders in the primary/caucus? Did you even vote in the primary/caucus or just sit there like a bump on a log waiting for Democratic royalty to parachute in a resuscitated corpse and then tell you to vote for it? If Lyin' Joe Biden can't win against the worst president in American history right after he profoundly mishandled a pandemic the Democratic Party could be finished forever. See how you like your 'Better to lose with Biden than win with Bernie' takeout meal then.
Dutch
Mar 22, 2020, 11:25:20 PM3/22/20
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On 2020-03-22 8:06 p.m., risky biz wrote:
>> Bad dodge. Of course I did and you can't show where I didn't. Yet I showed that you thought there was a primary when you asked if I voted in it.
> So I misused the word 'primary' rather than 'caucus'. Big victory for you, Jerry, in your little troll campaign.
I think Jerry needs to be put on the grease for a while until he ups his
>> Bad dodge. Of course I did and you can't show where I didn't. Yet I showed that you thought there was a primary when you asked if I voted in it.
> So I misused the word 'primary' rather than 'caucus'. Big victory for you, Jerry, in your little troll campaign.
game. He is turning into a mindless goofball.
BTSinAustin
Mar 23, 2020, 11:41:32 AM3/23/20
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VegasJerry
Mar 23, 2020, 1:35:09 PM3/23/20
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> Did you vote for Bernie Sanders in the primary/caucus?
See? Gotch-a! again..
> Big victory for you, Jerry, in your little troll campaign.
VegasJerry
Mar 23, 2020, 1:35:54 PM3/23/20
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risky biz
Mar 23, 2020, 2:48:11 PM3/23/20
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On Monday, March 23, 2020 at 10:35:09 AM UTC-7, VegasJerry wrote:
> > > Bad dodge. Of course I did and you can't show where I didn't. Yet I showed that you thought there was a primary when you asked if I voted in it.
>
> > So I misused the word 'primary' rather than 'caucus'.
>
> No, it wasn’t a ‘misuse’ because you use both together.
Wow. What logic.
> > > Bad dodge. Of course I did and you can't show where I didn't. Yet I showed that you thought there was a primary when you asked if I voted in it.
>
> > So I misused the word 'primary' rather than 'caucus'.
>
> No, it wasn’t a ‘misuse’ because you use both together.
> > Did you vote for Bernie Sanders in the primary/caucus?
> > Did you even vote in the primary/caucus or just sit there…?
>
> See? Gotch-a! again..
> > Big victory for you, Jerry, in your little troll campaign.
>
> Yea, and another loss for you. We told you to run while you had the chance….
risky biz
Mar 23, 2020, 2:50:06 PM3/23/20
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VegasJerry
Mar 23, 2020, 4:01:19 PM3/23/20
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On Monday, March 23, 2020 at 11:48:11 AM UTC-7, risky biz wrote:
> On Monday, March 23, 2020 at 10:35:09 AM UTC-7, VegasJerry wrote:
>
> > > > Bad dodge. Of course I did and you can't show where I didn't. Yet I showed that you thought there was a primary when you asked if I voted in it.
> >
> > > So I misused the word 'primary' rather than 'caucus'.
> >
> > No, it wasn’t a ‘misuse’ because you use both together.
>
> Wow. What logic.
>
> > > Did you vote for Bernie Sanders in the primary/caucus?
> > > Did you even vote in the primary/caucus or just sit there…?
> >
> > See? Gotch-a! again..
>
> Wow. What logic.
>
> > > Big victory for you, Jerry, in your little troll campaign.
> >
> > Yea, and another loss for you. We told you to run while you had the chance….
>
> Wow. What logic.
Concession accepted, your embarrassment acknowledged.
> On Monday, March 23, 2020 at 10:35:09 AM UTC-7, VegasJerry wrote:
>
> > > > Bad dodge. Of course I did and you can't show where I didn't. Yet I showed that you thought there was a primary when you asked if I voted in it.
> >
> > > So I misused the word 'primary' rather than 'caucus'.
> >
> > No, it wasn’t a ‘misuse’ because you use both together.
>
> Wow. What logic.
>
> > > Did you vote for Bernie Sanders in the primary/caucus?
> > > Did you even vote in the primary/caucus or just sit there…?
> >
> > See? Gotch-a! again..
>
> Wow. What logic.
>
> > > Big victory for you, Jerry, in your little troll campaign.
> >
> > Yea, and another loss for you. We told you to run while you had the chance….
>
> Wow. What logic.
BTSinAustin
Mar 23, 2020, 4:33:24 PM3/23/20
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risky biz
Mar 23, 2020, 6:10:44 PM3/23/20
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risky biz
Mar 24, 2020, 4:58:10 PM3/24/20
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Alan Jacobson, a shareholder in Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, sued Burr in federal court on Monday, alleging that the senator used private information to motivate a mass liquidation of his assets. It is illegal for senators to use nonpublic information in conducting securities exchanges.
Burr came under fire after OpenSecrets and ProPublica reported last week that he had sold between $628,000 and $1.72 million worth of his stock holdings in mid-February — while he was still publicly reassuring the country that the United States was amply prepared for the growing coronavirus outbreak. Among the shares he sold were an up to $150,000 stake in Wyndham, whose stock suffered a market-value cut of more than two-thirds since mid-February.
Burr was also in the hot seat after NPR reported that he had warned wealthy members of an exclusive social club about the major disruptions to the nation’s economic and daily life that would come from the growing outbreak. As chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Burr is privy to much of the nation’s classified information on threats to national security.
“Senator Burr owed a duty to Congress, the United States government, and citizens of the United States, including Plaintiff, not to use material nonpublic information that he learned by virtue of his duties as a United States Senator in connection with the sale or purchase of any security,” said Jacobson’s lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
“Had Plaintiff and the market known of the material nonpublic information in Senator Burr’s possession regarding COVID-19, and on which Senator Burr traded, Wyndham’s stock price on February 13, 2020 would have been substantially lower,” the suit continued. “Senator Burr and his wife sold up to $150,000 of Wyndham stock on that date, and therefore he and his wife pocketed up to $150,000 in illegal insider trading proceeds at Plaintiff’s expense.”
Jacobson argued he had suffered harm because he kept his shares while they were trading at artificially inflated prices due to the lack of public knowledge on the coming economic devastation from coronavirus.
Burr asked the Senate Ethics Committee on Friday to review his stock sales and maintained that he “relied solely on public news reports to guide my decision regarding the sale of stocks.” He denied using information that was not public regarding the coronavirus outbreak.'
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/23/richard-burr-lawsuit-coronavirus-145564
risky biz
Mar 31, 2020, 2:33:32 PM3/31/20
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On Thursday, March 19, 2020 at 4:44:46 PM UTC-7, risky biz wrote:
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