Lindsey Graham, the Chameleon of the Senate

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Lindsey Graham, a longtime South Carolina politician who has only recently shown his favor to true conservatives view, claims to be unhappy with this latest impeachment trial targeting former President Donald Trump. If he disagrees so strongly, why isn't he pushing for dismissal? 

On Tuesday, Graham used his still active Twitter account to publish the following statement, “I’ll try to achieve the ‘impartiality’ of @SenSchumer, @SpeakerPelosi and other leading democrats when it comes to impeachment. I’m confident I’m as impartial regarding the impeachment trial as @CillizzaCNN is in covering the news and Republicans!”

 

If Trump is no longer president, what’s the purpose in proceeding with an impeachment trial in the Senate? First, we have to understand what impeachment is and the possible outcomes of an impeachment charge and trial. 

 

Impeachment is a process used to charge, try and remove a public official for misconduct while in office. The power of impeachment is a constitutional power belonging to Congress. In impeachment proceedings, the defendant does not risk forfeiture of life, liberty, or property. According to the United States Constitution, the only penalties allowed to be imposed by the Senate are removal from office and disqualification from holding any federal office in the future. After removal from office, the removed person may be open to criminal prosecution for the actions that brought on the impeachment. 

 

Trump can’t be removed from office, as he is now a private citizen. The clear desire of those pushing for this trial is to disgrace Trump in the public eye and prevent him from ever holding a federal public office again. It’s not enough for Trump to be out of office – he must be destroyed and prevented from coming back in the 2024 election. 

 

Proceeding with the trial at all is a waste of legislative time and purpose. There are many pressing issues for the nation, but this trial of retaliation will go forward on February 8^th. 

 

Graham’s stock went up with the conservative base when he made an impassioned speech at the 2018 Brett Kavanaugh confirmation hearing for his ultimate appointment to the United States Supreme Court. “What you want to do is destroy this guy’s life and hope you win in 2020. You’ve said that. This is the most unethical sham since I’ve been in politics. Boy, y’all want power. I hope you never get it.”

 

Conservatives everywhere cheered his sudden show of passion and firm stance for a Republican court nominee. Yet three years later, and immediately following a razor thin victory over Democrat candidate Jamie Harrison’s challenge to his own Senate seat, Graham offers effusive congratulations to Harrison for being named chairman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC). 

 

"Congratulations to @harrisonjaime for being selected as Chair of the @DNC," Graham said in a tweet. "This is a big honor and I’m confident he will do a good job representing the Democratic cause. Jaime will be a formidable opponent." 

 

When multiple allegations of election fraud were made regarding the 2020 election, Graham told The State newspaper that, “Trump and his allies must stop pushing claims that widespread voter fraud stole the election for President-elect Biden.” However, he donated $500,000 to Trump’s legal efforts in mounting election result challenges in several key states.