Senator Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, criticized former President Donald Trump for pledging to pardon individuals who participated in the January 6 insurrection if he wins in 2024, calling Trump's remarks "inappropriate."
Graham, a longtime Trump ally, went on to suggest that Trump's rhetoric is dangerous and stressed that those who participated in the insurrection, which took place after a mob of Trump's supporters stormed the United States Capitol on the false premise the election was stolen, should be jailed.
You can hear what Graham said in the video below.
Disgraceful, @LindseyGrahamSC. \n\nLindsey Graham On President Trump Promising To Pardon January 6th Political Prisoners: \u201cI think it\u2019s inappropriate.\u201dpic.twitter.com/J2EftWkLXX— The Columbia Bugle \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@The Columbia Bugle \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1643573534
Graham said:
“I think it’s inappropriate. I don’t want to reinforce that defiling the Capitol was okay. I don’t want to do anything that would make this more likely in the future."
"I hope they go to jail and get the book thrown at them because they deserve it.”
Graham's remarks came after Trump, speaking at a Texas rally, pledged to pardon rioters and urged his supporters to protest in the event prosecutors officially charge him with financial crimes.
Trump insisted that riot participants should be pardoned because "they are being treated so unfairly," though he did not offer specifics.
Graham, for his part, received considerable blowback from Republicans who cast him as a traitor to their cause.
I will help primary Graham in 2026! @LindseyGrahamSC I\u2019m coming for your seat! \n\n#January6thhttps://twitter.com/ColumbiaBugle/status/1487881359242715146\u00a0\u2026— Real Sheepdog (@Real Sheepdog) 1643582333
Hey @LindseyGrahamSC You know it was a Fed, CP, Pelosi Op. What did YOU know and when did you know it?https://twitter.com/ColumbiaBugle/status/1487881359242715146\u00a0\u2026— SBats (@SBats) 1643586981
Lindsey, you are a disgusting RINO! Were you in on it with Pelosi and the gang? https://twitter.com/ColumbiaBugle/status/1487881359242715146\u00a0\u2026— Pammsy 1 (@Pammsy 1) 1643588628
@LindseyGrahamSC is a the exact kind of GOP that needs to go !https://twitter.com/columbiabugle/status/1487881359242715146\u00a0\u2026— DesertWaveRider (@DesertWaveRider) 1643590702
#lindseygraham is compromised and a career politician. Typical of a cuck like him.https://twitter.com/columbiabugle/status/1487881359242715146\u00a0\u2026— Doc Holliday* (@Doc Holliday*) 1643593177
S N A K E https://twitter.com/columbiabugle/status/1487881359242715146\u00a0\u2026— Jill Vest (@Jill Vest) 1643605795
Graham just needs to STFU already. And SC seriously needs to get rid of him!https://twitter.com/ColumbiaBugle/status/1487881359242715146\u00a0\u2026— LA D\u2019Rae (@LA D\u2019Rae) 1643608064
What\u2019s with Hannity who continues to give this low-life a platform? The worst of the worst.https://twitter.com/columbiabugle/status/1487881359242715146\u00a0\u2026— Christopher (@Christopher) 1643634068
Lindsey Graham and Sununu and his OUT OF DATE cabal PRETEND they don't know that J6 was a Fed inside job:) F88kLindseyGraham! @LindseyGrahamSChttps://twitter.com/ColumbiaBugle/status/1487881359242715146\u00a0\u2026— SweetBabyJane FreeJ6FreedomFighters! All4 Liberty! (@SweetBabyJane FreeJ6FreedomFighters! All4 Liberty!) 1643582206
The irony in Graham's remarks is that he has often backed Trump's lies and did play a part in legitimizing his complaints about the 2020 election among the Republican base despite the fact that they've been repeatedly debunked.
For instance, shortly after the election–which Joe Biden won decisively–Graham made headlines after he was criticized by Citizens for Ethics in Washington (CREW) for suggesting that officials should try to toss out legal ballots in the state of Georgia while a recount was underway.
Graham denied any wrongdoing, calling any suggestion “ridiculous.”
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