Lindsey Graham is attacked by Trump supporters online after condemning the Republican Party’s election challenge

Senator Lindsey Graham is facing online reaction from supporters of President Donald Trump for condemning the efforts of several members of the Republican Party Congress to challenge the certification of the Electoral College vote for President-elect Joe Biden.

A coalition of 11 Republican senators and elected senators pledged to oppose Congress to certify the Electoral College’s vote on Wednesday, unless a committee is formed to audit the results of elections in disputed states. The group, led by Ted Cruz from Texas, said it “would reject voters from disputed states as not ‘regularly given’ and ‘legally certified’ … unless and until the 10-day emergency audit is completed.”

Graham, a Republican who represents South Carolina, criticized the effort as a political ploy on Sunday.

“Proposing a commission on this date – which has a zero chance of coming true – is not effectively fighting for President Trump,” he tweeted. “It appears to be more of a political escape than an effective remedy.”

“They will also need to show that the failure to take corrective measures to deal with electoral fraud has changed the outcome of these states’ votes and, ultimately, the outcome of the election,” he added. “My colleagues will have the opportunity to present this case and I will listen carefully. But they have a high barrier to overcome.”

Graham, a staunch ally of Trump, publicly supports the president’s unverified claim that widespread electoral fraud caused his electoral defeat and made several appearances on Fox News to echo the allegations. But some Trump supporters have turned against him on social media for insisting that the political stance will not help the president maintain power.

“So you used MAGA to be re-elected and now to do that? Disgusting, ”tweeted Errol Webber, a Republican candidate for governor of California.

“Did it take you more than a second to review the mountains of evidence?” user @MikeLewisImages wrote.

“You just lost your next election. You better support the president. South Carolina deserves better,” commented @jinxyrabbit.

User @rdunnflorida wrote: “You are having fun with gender studies in Pakistan. I am sick of all corrupt politicians. These 11 senators are heroes. You are not in the same class.”

“You better stay with Cruz and the others who oppose the vote. Do it, Lindsey! Otherwise, your political career is over, ”wrote @ Kearney9.

User @ dougarnold1961 added, “Lindsey wrong. Wrong way because CONSTITUTIONALLY contesting the results of an election is not a ‘threat to democracy’. ORDERING and STEALING an election is!”

Newsweek contacted Graham’s office for comment.

In addition to Cruz, the group of 11 Republicans who plan to oppose certification on Wednesday includes Ron Johnson of Wisconsin; James Lankford of Oklahoma; Steve Daines of Montana; John Kennedy of Louisiana; Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee; and Mike Braun from Indiana. Elected senators Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, Roger Marshall of Kansas; Bill Hagerty of Tennessee; and Cynthia Lummis, from Wyoming, are also part of the movement.

Some Republicans joined their fellow Democrats in denouncing the movement. Senator Mitt Romney of Utah called the effort “a blatant ploy to reject voters” in a statement.

“The power of Congress to reject voters is reserved for the most extreme and unusual circumstances. They are far from that,” he said. “I could never imagine seeing these things in the greatest democracy in the world. Did ambition overshadow the principles so much?”