Sen. Richard Burr responded to a report that he told some “well-connected constituents” about the effects of the coronavirus three weeks ago.
“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,” the North Carolina Republican said at a luncheon weeks ago the same day President Trump was downplaying the potential effects of the virus. “It is probably more akin to the 1918 pandemic,” Burr said.
NPR, which first reported the comments, noted the lunch was attended largely by businesses and organizations that were part of the Tar Heel Circle, which costs anywhere from $500 to $10,000 to join.
Burr responded to the report by calling it irresponsible. “In a tabloid-style hit piece today, NPR knowingly and irresponsibly misrepresented a speech I gave last month about the coronavirus threat,” he wrote. “This lunch was hosted on Feb. 27 by the North Carolina State Society. It was publicly advertised and widely attended. NPR knew, but did not report, that attendees also included many non-members, bipartisan congressional staff, and representatives from the governor’s office.”
This lunch was hosted on Feb. 27 by the North Carolina State Society. It was publicly advertised and widely attended.
NPR knew, but did not report, that attendees also included many non-members, bipartisan congressional staff, and representatives from the governor’s office. 2/
— Richard Burr (@SenatorBurr) March 19, 2020
Burr, who leads the Senate Intelligence Committee, said the luncheon was “publicly advertised” and not “secretive” or exclusive. “They’re great civic institutions that bring people in D.C. together for events, receptions, and lunches. And they’re open to anyone who wants to get involved,” he said.
He went on to call the piece “journalistic malpractice.” “The message I shared with my constituents is the one public health officials urged all of us to heed as coronavirus spread increased: be prepared,” he added.
Burr noticeably did not respond to another piece on Thursday from ProPublica which accused the senator of dumping upward of $1.6 million in stocks while simultaneously receiving daily briefings on the coronavirus outbreak.
