Posted on 12/22/2019 12:49:55 PM PST by jazusamo
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-SC) made it very clear he believes Democrats are pursuing impeachment against President Donald Trump because the president decided to exercise his legal rights. Specifically, Graham cited Trump's use of executive privilege and the desire for the courts to decide whether or not key administration officials, like acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, can be subpoenaed to testify as part of the Democrats' impeachment process.
On Fox News' "Sunday Morning Future," Graham said he believes Speaker Nancy Pelosi has taken "a wrecking ball to the Constitution." He cited the impeachment process and her failure to hand over articles of impeachment to the Senate as a prime example.
"This is the latest in a series of constitutional train wrecks orchestrated by Nancy Pelosi. During the impeachment process, the president was not allowed to have counsel present during the Intel Committee. He could not call witnesses on his behalf," he explained. "He could not confront his accuser and now that he's been charged with two articles of impeachment, Nancy Pelosi is denying the president his day in the court in the Senate and she's actually trying to tell Mitch McConnell how to run the Senate."
One of the issues Graham has with Pelosi is her attempt at trying to run the impeachment trial once the articles are sent to the Senate.
"She's trampling on the separation of powers. It's the Senate's job to dispose of impeachment articles once passed by the House," he said. "It's not Nancy Pelosi's job. When it comes to Trump, the rules don't matter to Democrats and that's dangerous and sad."
The Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman believes the Democrats decided to pursue impeaching President Trump specifically because he fought Congressional subpoenas by invoking executive privilege. Graham called the Democrats' move a form of "extortion."
"What she's trying to do is to get Mitch McConnell to bend to her will to shape the trial. Can you imagine if the roles were reversed?" he asked. "...Democrats hate him so much. They don't love anything Constitutional anymore. All the rules have been thrown in a ditch to get Trump from the way they impeached him to now denying his day in court."
Graham said Pelosi will eventually send the articles because public opinion is stacked against the Democrats.
"You got the Minority Leader Chuck Schumer conspiring with the Speaker of the House basically to insist upon calling witnesses that deny. The president is invoking executive privilege around Mulvaney and John Bolton and others," he said. "They impeached this president because he chose to go to court. The second article of impeachment is obstruction of Congress. The president has claimed executive privilege and instead of allowing the president to exercise his legal rights, they've impeached him because he wanted to go to court. Can you imagine what would've happened if we'd done this to a Democrat? That we impeach a Democrat because they wanted to go to court?
He had a stark warning for any senator who calls for additional witnesses to testify during the trial.
"To any senator who votes to compel the testimony of John Bolton or Mick Mulvaney before the president can have his day in court exercising executive privilege before the courts – the court's available to every American, including Donald Trump – so, if you call these witnesses who work for the president after he's invoked executive privilege, if you deny him his day in court, then you're abusing the constitutional rights of Donald Trump as president and you're putting the entire presidency at risk," Graham said harshly. "I can't imagine any senator doing this to the presidency."
According to the Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman, Democrats put "an artificial time limit" on Trump's executive privilege.
"They put an artificial time limit and said,'If you don't allow these witnesses to come to the House at a time certain we're going to impeach you.' They impeached him for exercising his legal rights," he explained. "I hope senators will not do the same thing. Hope the senators will not vote to compel witnesses before the court determines whether or not there's executive privilege."
Graham said he believes House impeachment managers will argue their case based on established testimony and findings, Democrats will want to call more witnesses and the vote will fall along party lines, with Republicans saying no.
The Dems are thugs and should be treated as such.
And keep in mind Trump will have just won reelection and if the democrats try to remove him after just winning based on old garbage from a held up impeachment scam...well I think there will be a little hell to pay.
The Dems know they can’t stop Trump’s re-election, not with this economy.
........
So they’re waiting for the Senate election next fall to turn out more Dems in the Senate.
************************************************************
If the economy holds which I believe is likely, Trump wins and I can’t see the R’s losing any seats at all in the Senate and would probably pick up some + a bunch in the House.
Speaking of rally, I'm sure Linda has seen the size the POTUS rallies of late. I predict, and I never do, that Pres. Trump is not only going to get more Electoral votes, but secure the Popular vote. It would take someone like an articulate Bill Clinton in his heyday to give Trump a problem. No such person exists in the dim/socialist party.
I believe you’re right about Linda and the election.
I also believe if it’s not a landslide for Pres. Trump it’ll be darn close to one.
Nobody ever reads the article. One of the charges was “obstruction of Congress,” by which they meant that Trump wanted a judicial order before letting these people testify, something that was his right (because the testimony might violate executive privilege), and something that Bill Clinton also asked for.
Also I’m highly suspicious of people who insult and attack Lindsey Graham every time he supports Trump. I think there’s a bit of Dem trolling going on.
"Need to start using WORDS, Senator:"Democrats are creating a #ConstitutionalCrisis by not sending the #ArticlesofImpeachment to the #Senate. Only a #House of ill repute would fail to abide by the instructions in the Constitution to timely deliver the Articles to the Senate!"
3 days later...
"On Fox News' "Sunday Morning Future," Graham said he believes Speaker Nancy Pelosi has taken "a wrecking ball to the Constitution." He cited the impeachment process and her failure to hand over articles of impeachment to the Senate as a prime example."This is the latest in a series of constitutional train wrecks orchestrated by Nancy Pelosi"
Bump!
“Let’s get real, Linda, what is a nutless wonder like you going to do about it? Maybe you can say more words in front of a microphone.”
He’s going to send a letter, cause he’s angry!! LOL
And he’s scheduled a hearing for April 31st, 2020!
And by the way, he needs donations for his re-election campaign!
Big fat “/s” to all that, if it was not already understood
Very well put sir
Their nonsense is not going very far and this guy is amazing
nonstop
Achievement
NO. PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS IMPEACHED TO CONCEAL CORRUPTION IN DC.
“Also I’m highly suspicious of people who insult and attack Lindsey Graham every time he supports Trump.”
Reading isn’t reactionary and it’s far easier to beat up on Sen. Graham who got 50 votes and sent a letter to Nancy Pelosi that her rigged process was DOA and utterly infuriating her.
No matter what Sen. Graham does and he’s doing a lot for President Trump, he gets attacked here.
Some group of people who probably don’t even know who Sen. Richard Burr is, a flat out traitor working with Mark Warner to do maximize damage on the Senate Intel Committee to President Trump and our Republic.
Ignorance is strength don’t ya know. There’s some very cranky emoting going on.
That’s clever, I like it. :^)
lets be clear. Democrats impeached trump because in their minds he was never suppose to be president. Hilary was.
I suspect there will also be R gains..
Lewis should dispatch Smith in MN fairly easily.
I agree. Trump had coattails in 2016..
They are going to be even larger in 2020.
LindseyRemember that linda is up for reelection in 2020.
Remember also that linda is writing a Red Flag bill.
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