Sen. Lindsey Graham goes before grand jury in Georgia election probe

After months of authorized wrangling, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) appeared Tuesday earlier than a Georgia grand jury investigating doable unlawful interference by former President Donald Trump and his allies within the 2020 election.

“At the moment, Senator Graham appeared earlier than the  Fulton County Particular Grand Jury for simply over two hours and answered all questions,” an announcement from Graham’s workplace learn. 

“The Senator feels he was handled with respect, professionalism, and courtesy. Out of respect for the grand jury course of he won't touch upon the substance of the questions,” the unsigned assertion added.

Prosecutors in Fulton County, led by District Legal professional Fani Willis, are investigating the actions of Trump and his cohorts after Joe Biden gained the Peach State by greater than 11,000 votes. 

Graham made various cellphone calls to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger within the weeks after Trump’s loss which have drawn the curiosity of investigators.

The senator has argued that his calls to Raffensperger have been “legislative fact-finding” as a part of his due diligence earlier than the Jan. 6, 2021 vote to certify the election outcomes — and claimed that being compelled to testify concerning the calls would violate his rights beneath the Structure’s Speech or Debate Clause, which protects lawmakers from authorized legal responsibility for actions whereas conducting official enterprise. 

Sen. Lindsey Graham testified earlier than a Fulton County, Georgia grand jury investigating potential interference within the 2020 presidential election.

Picture by Justin Kase/Shutterstock

For months, Graham fought to quash his subpoena. He petitioned the Supreme Court docket in October to dam him from having to testify within the investigation, however the excessive courtroom finally declined to intervene.

Raffensperger has stated that he was beneath the impression that Graham was suggesting throughout the cellphone name that he ought to discard some ballots.

“It was simply an implication of, ‘Look onerous and see what number of ballots you possibly can throw out,’” Raffensperger instructed CNN in November of 2020. 

Graham claimed his cellphone calls to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger have been “legislative fact-finding.”

REUTERS/Carlos Barria

Graham has denied that he advised Raffensperger throw out ballots.

Raffensperger, who was re-elected as Georgia’s secretary of state on Nov. 8,  has additionally given testimony earlier than the Fulton County grand jury.