Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C) is asking the Supreme Court to block a subpoena from the Georgia grand jury investigating efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in the state.
Graham filed the emergency request at the Supreme Court one day after the 11th US Circuit Court of Appeals refused to block his testimony.
Ten days after the Nov. 3 presidential elections Graham called Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and asked whether he had the power to toss out all mail ballots in certain counties. Raffensperger told the Washington Post that Graham appeared to be asking him to improperly toss out legally cast ballots.
Graham argued that his actions during the call were protected by the Speech or Debate Clause of the US Constitution since investigating irregularities in the 2020 election is part of his duties as a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
However, the appellate court ruled that his efforts to ‘cajole’ or ‘exhort’ Georgia election officials” are not constitutionally protected, and the narrowed scope of questioning by the jury wouldn’t violate his rights as a sitting senator.
Graham’s request was filed to conservative Justice Clarence Thomas, who oversees emergency applications from the 11th Circuit.
