Graham says he doesn’t need to hear impeachment witnesses: ‘I am ready to vote’

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) doubled down on his push for a speedy Senate impeachment trial, saying he doesn’t need to hear from witnesses before taking a vote on whether to convict or acquit President Trump. 

“I think what’s best for the country is to get this thing over with,” Graham said in an interview on CBS’s “Face the Nation that aired Sunday. “I [have] clearly made up my mind, I’m not trying to hide the fact that I have disdain for the accusations in the process, so I don’t need any witnesses.”

“I am ready to vote on the underlying articles, I don’t really need to hear a lot of witnesses,” he added. 

IMPEACHMENT TIMING: If the House votes to impeach @realDonaldTrump, @LindseyGrahamSC says he supports a speedy Senate trial and doesn’t need to hear from witnesses. He will vote on the underlying articles introduced in the Judiciary Committee. WATCH: pic.twitter.com/1M3vYxY8Ou

— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) December 15, 2019

Graham also said he is inviting Trump’s personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee about his recent trip to Ukraine, but he said that it should remain separate from the Senate impeachment trial. 

Graham’s Sunday comments on a speedy trial come after he pledged during an interview with CNN on Saturday to help impeachment “die quickly” in the Senate. He also told the network he has made up his mind on the allegations. {mosads}

The House is expected to vote on articles of impeachment after they passed the House Judiciary Committee in a party-line.

Trump is expected to be acquitted in the Republican-controlled Senate.