Sen. Richard Burr’s (R-N. C.) decision to temporarily step down as chairman of the Intelligence Committee sent shock waves through the Senate on Thursday.…
Sen. Richard Burr’s (R-N. C.) decision to temporarily step down as chairman of the Intelligence Committee sent shock waves through the Senate on Thursday.
The announcement, made in a statement by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), visibly shocked several of Burr’s colleagues, who appeared to be learning the news as reporters asked them about the decision.
Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), a member of GOP leadership and the Intelligence Committee, appeared unaware that Burr had decided to step down.
“Has he done that?” Blunt said when asked by reporters
Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine), who are also members of the panel, appeared to have not seen the statement from McConnell.
“Oh wow,” said Collins. “I don’t know what to say, I truly didn’t know about it. He’s been an excellent chairman of the committee.”
Collins and Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), the vice chairman of the Intelligence Committee, were later spotted having an animated discussion on the Senate floor. Collins then spoke with Burr, Warner and Sen. John Thune (S. D.), the No. 2 Republican senator, near the well of the Senate.
Asked by a gaggle of reporters if he expected to become chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Rubio appeared perplexed: “Um, why?”
“I haven’t heard that,” he added when informed that McConnell had announced that Burr would step aside pending the outcome of the FBI’s investigation.
