Senator Richard Burr’s decision to step down as chairman of the Intelligence Committee, temporarily, caused some shake-ups through the Senate on Thursday. 

The announcement, made in a statement by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, appeared to visibly shock a number of Burr’s colleagues, who seemed to learn the news as reporters asked them about the decision. 

Senator Roy Blunt, a member of GOP leadership and the Intelligence Committee, appeared completely unaware that Burr had decided to step down. 

“Has he done that?” Blunt said when asked by reporters 

Senators Marco Rubio and Susan Collins, who were also members of the panel, seemed 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 Senator Mark Warner, 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 Senator John Thune, the second most senior Republican senator, near the well of the Senate.

Asked by reporters if he expected to become chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Senator Marco Rubio appeared confused: “Um, why?” 

“I haven’t heard that,” he clarified upon learning that McConnell had announced that Burr would step aside pending the outcome of the FBI’s investigation. 

The stocks were sold early in February after senators received closed-door briefings on the national threat posed by the Covid-19 before most Americans were warned about the potential economic fallout of the outbreak.

Burr has, of course, denied that he used any information he learned in his capacity as a senator to guide his decisions regarding selling his stocks.

Rubio, when asked if he got more information while on the floor, stated that the news was “just out.” 

“I mean I wish they would time these things better,” he quipped.

It was the latest turn since reports surfaced in March that the Justice Department was conducting a probe into Burr’s sale of up to $1.72 million in stocks earlier this year. 

“I think he’s trying to do what he thinks is the right thing and I respect that,” said Senator John Cornyn. 

Senator Lindsey Graham added that he did not believe Burr had done “anything criminally wrong.” 

“The bottom line is, let’s just see how this turns out I’ve nothing but good things to say about Richard Burr,” he said.