Graham signals he's going full-Kavanaugh for the trial
by digby
Via Crooks and Liars:
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) argued that he will consider any impeachment "invalid" unless it exposes the identity of the whistleblower who outed Donald Trump's extortion of Ukraine.
While speaking to Fox News host Maria Bartiromo, Graham suggested that the Senate does not have to fulfill its constitutional obligations to try the Donald Trumpif the House impeachment is deemed "invalid."
Graham praised Republicans in the House who have called on both the whistleblower and Hunter Biden, the son of former Vice President Joe Biden, to testify.
"I consider any impeachment in the House that doesn't allow us to know who the whistleblower is to be invalid," the South Carolina senator declared. "Because without the whistleblower complaint, we wouldn't be talking about any of this."
"I also see the need for Hunter Biden to be called to adequately defend the president," he added. "And if you don't do those two things, it's a complete joke."
House Democrats have argued that the whistleblower's identity does not need to be exposed because the complaint against Trump has been corroborated multiple times by witnesses who have come forward.
The Senate strategy is starting to form, at least as far as Trump and his loyal doormat are concerned. They plan a reprise of this:
It's not a bad plan. Any thoughts that the Republicans will rebel because this is a sober constitutional process and they need to behave in a dignified and serious manner should be dismissed right now. They practically rioted during a Supreme Court confirmation hearing and it's considered one of their biggest victories of the Trump era.
They know Trump's going to beat the rap. They think this vicious, feral, animal act will make it look as though Trump "won" by being strong and having his Palace guards fight off the enemy in hand to hand combat.
It might work. Everything's a TV show these days and we've become inured to Trump shenanigans so a lot of people may think this is just another reality show competition and the Republicans won with their "aggressive tactics" even though it was really pre-ordained because the constitution requires a super-majority to convict, a requirement that would probably save him even if the Democrats held the Senate.
Whether it works or not I think we can depend on these nuts to turn it into a circus. It's all they've got.
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