Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., on Tuesday testified earlier than a Georgia grand jury investigating attainable interference within the 2020 presidential election.
Graham’s workplace mentioned in a press release he testified for simply over two hours and answered the grand jury’s questions.
“The Senator feels he was handled with respect, professionalism, and courtesy,” the assertion mentioned. “Out of respect for the grand jury course of he won’t touch upon the substance of the questions.”
The Supreme Courtroom earlier this month rejected Graham’s request to quash a subpoena from the grand jury within the Georgia probe. Fulton County District Legal professional Fani Willis, who’s heading the investigation, is searching for particulars about cellphone calls Graham made to high election officers in Georgia amid disproven allegations from then-President Donald Trump about widespread voter fraud within the 2020 election.
The Supreme Courtroom’s ruling allowed the grand jury’s subpoena to be enforced, however Graham might refuse to reply questions by invoking his proper in opposition to self-incrimination beneath the Structure’s Fifth Modification.
Graham had argued that he shouldn’t have to supply testimony in regards to the calls as a result of it was a part of his duties main as much as Congress’ vote to certify the election outcomes, and subsequently the subpoena infringes upon the Structure’s speech or debate clause that protects lawmakers from investigations over feedback they make of their official duties.
Willis’ workplace is probing a pair of post-election cellphone calls Graham made to Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and his employees. Raffensperger, a Republican focused by Trump and his allies, alleged that Graham urged that he had the authority to reject sure legally forged ballots. Graham denied having made such a suggestion, saying he was attempting to know the state’s course of for verifying poll signatures.
Frank Thorp V contributed.
