National Review
Lindsey Graham warns that forgiveness to Capitol mutineers would ‘destroy’ Trump
Senator Lindsey Graham (R., SC) on Sunday advised the president not to grant presidential pardons to the rioters who invaded the Capitol this month, warning that it would “destroy” Trump. “Sir. President, your policies will stand the test of time. You are the most important figure in the Republican Party. You can define the direction of the party. Keep your movement alive,” Graham told Fox News. “There are many people asking the president forgive the people who participated in the Capitol desecration, the rioters, “Graham continued.” I don’t care if you went there and spread flowers on the floor, you violated the security of the Capitol, you interrupted a joint session of Congress, you tried to intimidate us all, you should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, and seeking forgiveness from these people would be wrong. I think it would destroy President Trump and I hope we don’t go that way. ” On Wednesday, a large group of Trump supporters dominated the Capitol Police and forced their way into the corridors of Congress. Pence and the assembled legislators evacuated the Senate floor, where a joint session of Congress was being held to certify the results of the presidential elections. The violence followed a demonstration outside the White House earlier in the day when President Trump addressed the “Save the America March” and repeated his claims that the November election was fraught with electoral fraud that threatened to deprive his legitimate second term. The January 6 violence resulted in five deaths, including a Capitol police officer. Since then, dozens of criminal cases have been launched in connection with the riot. Graham defended Trump’s rhetoric at the rally, which received bipartisan condemnation and spawned a second impeachment against the president by House Democrats. “President Trump never said, ‘Go to the capitol and try to interrupt a joint session of Congress.’ That was the choice they made and they need to live with that choice, ”said Graham. Graham added that there were “irregularities in the postal vote”, but said that “the election is over”, noting that the electoral votes have been certified “. “Now it’s time to move on,” said the Republican from South Carolina. Graham also sent a message to new President Joe Biden, calling on him to stand up against Trump’s second impeachment, which the Senate must take on after his leaving office.