Despite numerous legal attempts to avoid testifying in a Georgia case investigating the attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) was told Thursday by an appeals court that he must appear, be sworn, and answer the questions posed to him.
The Washington Post reports a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit ruled against Graham.
“Senator Graham has failed to demonstrate that this approach will violate his rights under the Speech and Debate Clause,” according to the six-page order.
Graham can appeal the order to the full appeals court or could ask the Supreme Court to intervene.
Graham has been subpoenaed by a grand jury impaneled by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. The grand jury is investigating possible attempts to overturn the results of balloting in the Peach State by former president Donald Trump, who called Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and asked him to “find” thousands of votes that would make him victorious in the state.
Specifically, Trump told Raffesnperger:
“So look. All I want to do is this. I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have. Because we won the state.
“So what are we going to do here, folks? I only need 11,000 votes. Fellas, I need 11,000 votes. Give me a break.”
Graham got involved in the case by also calling Raffensperger:
During their conversation, Graham asked the Georgia secretary of state whether he had the power to toss out all mail ballots in certain counties, Raffensperger told The Washington Post in an interview days later. He said Graham appeared to be asking him to improperly find a way to set aside legally cast ballots.
It remains unclear if Graham is suspected of possible criminal behavior in Georgia, but his testimony could prove damaging to Trump, who is already under multiple criminal investigations at both the state and federal level.
