Leaked audio shows Republican Lindsey Graham was backstabbing then-President Donald Trump in favor of Joe Biden, who is now president. Graham was always seen as an ally to Trump, but this leaked audio of Lindsey Graham shows otherwise.
LISTEN/WATCH:
As stated: New York Times reporters Alex Burns and Jonathan Martin shared new audio in which Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) can be heard criticizing former President Donald Trump and praising President Biden in the wake of the Capitol riot, The Hill and Insider report.
During a Tuesday night appearance on CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360, Burns and Martin shared a tape of a post-Jan. 6 interview with Graham, in which the lawmaker says Trump “plays the TV game and he went too far here.”
“That rally didn’t help, talking about primarying [Wyoming Republican Rep. Liz Cheney]. He created a sense of revenge,” Graham continued, per Insider.
In another clip, the South Carolina Republican also said he believed everyone would “come out” of the Capitol riot “stronger.”
When asked if he thought Biden would help with that healing, Graham replied, “Totally.”
“He’ll maybe be the best person to have,” he continued. “I mean, how mad can you get at Joe Biden?”
Graham was in favor of a quick impeachment trial and appeared to support former President Donald Trump when Democrats went after him twice, but the leaked Lindsey Graham audio now paints a different picture of the Republican Senator.
As previously reported, to show the Graham’s support of Trump before the leaked audio and what could be his new opinion of Trump:
“The sooner this is over, the better for the country. We can get back to do the business of the American people,” Mr. Graham said.
House Democrats have sought to call new witnesses during the Senate trial, which begins Tuesday, arguing that a truncated process would be unfair.
House Intelligence Committee chairman Adam Schiff, the lead House impeachment manager, said the lingering question was “will there be a fair trial?”
“Will the senators allow the House to call witnesses to introduce documents?” he asked on ABC’s “This Week.” “That is the foundational issue on which everything else rests. And one thing that the public is overwhelmingly in support of, and that is a fair trial.”
It remains unclear if Graham will respond to the leaked audio. Will he defend his statement, justify, or redirect people demanding answers?