Graham: ‘I have zero problems with this phone call’

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), one of President Trump’s most vocal defenders in the Senate, said Sunday he had “zero problems” with the phone call in which Trump suggested Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky investigate former Vice President Joe Biden’s family.

“I have zero problems with this phone call,” Graham said on CBS’ “Face the Nation.” “We need a John Hancock moment from House Democrats: Quit hiding behind Nancy Pelosi. If you think the president did something wrong in this phone call, vote to open up an impeachment inquiry and a lot of democrats won’t because they’re afraid.”

Graham repeatedly characterized the whistleblower’s allegations as “hearsay” and contradicted host Margaret Brennan when she noted that a summary of the call released by the White House largely aligns with the report.

When Brennan said the allegations in the complaint are based on information obtained from several White House officials, the Senate Judiciary Committee chair said the focus should be on which officials provided the information.

{mosads}“The whistleblower says ‘I have no direct knowledge’… who are these people and what are they up to?” Graham said. “Salem witch trials have more due process than this.”

Graham went on to call for a special prosecutor to investigate Biden’s role in the dismissal amid corruption allegations of the prosecutor investigating a company Biden’s son Hunter sat on the board of. He demurred when asked if it was appropriate for Trump’ s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani to investigate the matter.

Asked what his advice was for Trump, who has suggested the White House will not work with Congress on any legislative matters if an impeachment inquiry continues, Graham said, “Work with us on guns, try to do something on prescription drugs… Bill Clinton did two things at once, defend himself and govern the country.” Graham voted to impeach then-President Clinton in 1998.

What did @LindseyGrahamSC tell @realDonaldTrump yesterday while golfing? “Work with Blumenthal and Murphy on guns. Keep fighting back. We have your back on this,” he tells @margbrennan. pic.twitter.com/rCGKIbcM57

— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) September 29, 2019