Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) stated he was “completely shocked” by the revelation {that a} Georgia grand jury beneficial that he be criminally charged over efforts to overturn the outcomes of the 2020 election.
“What I did was per my job as being a U.S. senator, chair of the Judiciary Committee,” Graham advised reporters in South Carolina on Friday. “I feel the system on this nation is getting off the rails and now we have to watch out to not use the authorized system as a political software.”
The particular grand jury voted 13-7 earlier this yr to advocate expenses in opposition to Graham, now the highest Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee. The senator was not in the end indicted by Fulton County District Legal professional Fani Willis when she introduced expenses in opposition to former President Donald Trump and different allies final month.
Based on a particular grand jury report made public Friday, the panel additionally believed a number of others must be criminally charged for plotting to overturn the outcomes of the 2020 election, together with former Trump nationwide safety adviser Michael Flynn and former U.S. Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, each Republicans from Georgia. The grand jury additionally beneficial charging Perdue for making false statements in regards to the election.
Prosecutors within the case probed a extremely uncommon cellphone name Graham positioned to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger 10 days after the 2020 election. Graham requested Raffensperger on the decision whether or not he had the ability to toss out all mail ballots in sure counties. Raffensber stated it gave the impression of Graham was suggesting he discover a method to put aside legally solid ballots.
However Graham denied that implication, reiterating on Friday he was merely inquiring about the best way the presidential election had been performed in addition to about runoff Senate elections involving Perdue and Loeffler, which had but to happen.
“If it ever turns into not possible or politically harmful or legally harmful for a United States senator to name up folks to learn the way the election was unsuitable, God assist us all. The following election, if I’ve questions, I’ll do the identical factor,” Graham stated.
“I did my job. I wouldn’t change something I did,” he added.
Prosecutors are afforded large discretion in deciding cost somebody, and it’s not clear why Willis sought some indictments however not others. Asha Rangappa, a lawyer and authorized commentator for MSNBC, instructed on Friday that bringing expenses in opposition to members of Congress may show tough and dangerous to the broader case.
