Graham: I would ‘totally’ investigate FBI over Russia probe, Clinton emails as Judiciary chair

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Tuesday said he would “totally” look into the FBI’s handling of its investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s emails if he becomes chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

“The oversight function will be very much front and center,” Graham said in an appearance on CNN. 

Graham is in position to rise to chairman of the Judiciary Committee if Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), the current chairman, opts to head up the Senate Finance Committee instead.

{mosads}The South Carolina Republican, who has emerged as one of President Trump’s strongest advocates, has previously expressed a desire to look into the FBI’s investigations. He has suggested on multiple occasions that a second special counsel should be appointed to probe GOP allegations of bias within the bureau.

Graham also indicated on Tuesday that he would support a bill to protect special counsel Robert Mueller in his investigation into Russian election interference, but cautioned that he doesn’t believe there’s a need for it.

“I don’t see any movement to get rid of Mueller,” he said. “But it probably would be good to have this legislation in place just for the future.” 

Graham co-sponsored a bill to protect the Mueller investigation in April that would codify Justice Department regulations that say only a senior official can fire Mueller or another special counsel.

Democrats and some Republicans have revived calls for legislation to protect the special counsel after Trump fired Jeff Sessions as attorney general and replaced him with acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker, who penned opinion pieces as a private citizen arguing for stifling Mueller’s funding and curbing the scope of his investigation.