The Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday evening that Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) was served a warrant for information in the investigation into his stock sales.
"Federal agents seized a cellphone belonging to a prominent Republican senator on Wednesday night as part of the Justice Department’s investigation into controversial stock trades he made as the coronavirus first struck the U.S.," the report said, citing a law enforcement official.
Burr turned over his phone to agents willingly, an official speaking on the condition of anonymity said.
"The seizure represents a significant escalation in the investigation into whether Burr violated a law preventing members of Congress from trading on insider information they have gleaned from their official work," the report said.
In February, Burr sold up to $1.7 million in stocks as the coronavirus crisis was gaining steam and the stock market was beginning to fall.
Burr is also under an ethics investigation for the allegations.
