DOJ will not criminally charge Sen. Richard Burr for stock trades he made after getting Covid intelligence

DOJ will not criminally charge Sen. Richard Burr for stock trades he made after getting Covid intelligence

The Justice Department will not criminally charge Sen. Richard Burr in connection with stock trades that the North Carolina Republican executed on the heels of being briefed about Covid-19 last year, shortly before the coronavirus pandemic rocked the U.S. economy.The probe of Burr had included the highly unsusual seizure of his cell phone by the FBI in May, and led to his stepping aside as chairman of the powerful Senate Intelligence Committee that same month."Tonight, the Department of Justice informed me that it has concluded its review of my personal financial transactions conducted early last year," Burr said in a statement Tuesday night."The case is now closed. I'm glad to hear it. My focus has been and will continue to be working for the people of North Carolina during this difficult time for our nation," Burr said.The DOJ did not immediately respond to a request for comment from CNBC.But a DOJ official confirmed to NBC News that the investigation was closed.The news came on President Donald Trump's last night in office.The closure of the probe puts an apparent end to a controversy that erupted last March, as the coronavirus pandemic's first wave began slamming the United States.Burr was one of