Sen. Lindsey Graham (S.C.) urged his fellow Republican senators Wednesday to not be a part of what he referred to as the “lynch mob” calling for former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) to withdraw his nomination to function lawyer normal due to allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use.
“I fear the process surrounding the Gaetz nomination is turning into an angry mob, and unverified allegations are being treated as if they are true. I have seen this movie before,” Graham, the rating Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, stated in a press release launched after he met with Gaetz and Vice President-elect JD Vance.
“I would urge all of my Senate colleagues, particularly Republicans, not to join the lynch mob and give the process a chance to move forward,” Graham continued.
Graham gave the impression to be alluding to sexual assault allegations that have been made towards conservative Choose Brett Kavanaugh when Trump nominated him to serve on the Supreme Court docket in 2018.
Kavanaugh’s Senate affirmation grew to become bitterly contentious after Christine Blasey Ford accused him of sexually assaulting her many years earlier at a highschool get together in Bethesda, Md.
Kavanaugh was finally confirmed on a largely party-line vote.
Some Republicans, together with Graham, are beginning to deploy the identical arguments from that point — that the allegations of sexual misconduct towards Gaetz stay unproven.
“After years of being investigated by the Department of Justice, no charges were brought against Matt Gaetz. This is something we should all remember,” Graham stated in his assertion.
“I would also urge my colleagues to go back to a time-tested process, receive relevant information, and give the nominee a chance to make their case as to why they should be confirmed. This standard – which I have long adhered to – has served the Senate and country well,” he stated.
Graham stated he had “a very good meeting” with Gaetz and Vance and pledged the affirmation course of to go ahead “in a manner consistent with past practices and fundamental fairness.”
“This process will not be a rubber stamp nor will it be driven by a lynch mob,” Graham stated.
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