The NPR Politics Podcast Weekly Roundup: May 15th, 2020
May 15, 2020
Nina Totenberg, NPR's Chief Legal Affairs Correspondent, brings her expertise to a timely discussion on the Supreme Court’s stance on presidential powers and ongoing investigations. They dissect Senator Richard Burr's stock trade controversy amid the pandemic, raising questions about insider trading. Totenberg also discusses the intricacies of legal battles surrounding subpoenas for Trump's financial records, the balance between legislative oversight and executive immunity, and the implications of recent rulings. This mix of law and politics keeps listeners engaged and informed.
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Burr's Stock Trades
- Sen. Richard Burr stepped aside as Intelligence Committee Chair amidst a Justice Department investigation.
- The investigation concerns stock trades Burr made before the public understood the severity of the coronavirus pandemic.
Serious Investigation
- Obtaining Burr's phone suggests the FBI had probable cause a federal crime was committed.
- This indicates a serious investigation, requiring high-level Justice Department approval due to Burr's position.
Insider Trading?
- Investigators are examining whether Burr used non-public information from intelligence briefings to inform his stock trades.
- Burr's brother-in-law made similar trades, raising further questions.