- A Federal judge dismissed US Senator Lindsey Graham’s fight to a subpoena to testify before a grand jury in Georgia.
- Prosecutors are investigating former President Donald Trump and his supporters’ efforts to overturn his 2020 election defeat.
- Graham contended through his lawyers that his status as a US senator exempted him from testifying.
A Federal judge dismissed On Monday, US Senator Lindsey Graham’s fight to a subpoena to testify before a grand jury in Georgia investigating former President Donald Trump and his supporters’ efforts to overturn his 2020 election defeat.
Graham, a Republican, contended through his lawyers that his status as a US senator exempted him from appearing before the investigation panel.
In a ruling issued on Monday, US District Judge Leigh Martin May stated that privileges linked to his position as a senator do not exempt him from testifying.
“The court finds that the District Attorney has shown extraordinary circumstances and a special need for Senator Graham’s testimony on issues relating to alleged attempts to influence or disrupt the lawful administration of Georgia’s 2022 elections,” May’s order said.
Graham was summoned to appear before the special grand jury on August 23, but he is anticipated to fight the judge’s decision.
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis launched the inquiry last year, and at her request, a special grand jury with subpoena power was convened in May. She filed papers last month trying to compel testimony from seven Trump advisors and allies.
Despite an hour-long call he made to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger on January 2, 2021, requesting him to “find” 11,800 votes, enough to affect the election results, Trump has denied any wrongdoing.
Prosecutors have suggested that they want to question Graham about phone calls he allegedly made to Raffensperger and his staff in the weeks after Trump’s election loss to Democrat Joe Biden.
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