Lindsey Graham warns Capitol rioters’ forgiveness would ‘destroy’ Trump
Senator Lindsey Graham (R., SC) on Sunday advised the president not to grant a presidential pardon to rioters who stormed on Capitol Hill this month, warning it would “destroy” Trump.
“Mr. President, your policies will stand the test of time. You are the most important figure in the Republican Party. You can shape the leadership of the party. Keep your movement alive,” Graham said on Fox News.
“There are a lot of people urging the president to pardon the people who participated in the desecration of the Capitol, the rioters,” Graham continued. “I don’t care if you went over there and spread flowers on the ground, you breached Capitol security, you interrupted a joint session of Congress, you tried to intimidate us all, you should be pursued as far as possible. law, and asking for forgiveness from these people would be a mistake. I think it would destroy President Trump and I hope we don’t go down that road.
On Wednesday, a large group of Trump supporters overpowered Capitol Police and forced their way into the halls of Congress. Pence and the assembled lawmakers evacuated the Senate floor, where a joint session of Congress was being held to certify the results of the presidential election.
The violence followed a rally outside the White House earlier in the day where President Trump addressed the “March to Save America” and repeated his claims that the November election was plagued by electoral fraud that threatened to deprive him of his legitimate second term.
The violence of January 6 left five people dead, including a police officer from the Capitol. Since then, dozens of criminal cases have been initiated in connection with the riot.
Graham defended Trump’s rhetoric at the rally, which received a bipartisan conviction and sparked a second impeachment against the president by House Democrats.
“President Trump never said, ‘Go to the capital and try to interrupt a joint session of Congress.’ It’s the choice they made and they have to live with that choice, ”Graham said.
Graham added that there were “irregularities in the postal ballot” but said “the election is over,” noting that the electoral votes have been certified.
“Now is the time to move on,” said the South Carolina Republican.
Graham also had a message for new President Joe Biden, calling on him to stand up against Trump’s second impeachment, which the Senate is expected to resume after he leaves office.