Sen. Lindsey Graham to challenge Atlanta-area grand jury subpoena
By Jason Morris and Sara Murray, CNN
Attorneys representing Republican South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham say that he intends to challenge the subpoena that he was issued by an Atlanta-area special grand jury investigating former President Donald Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia.
“Senator Graham plans to go to court, challenge the subpoena, and expects to prevail,” attorneys Bart Daniel and Matt Austin said in a statement on behalf of Graham.
Graham’s attorneys also wrote that in their “conversations with Fulton County investigators,” they have been informed that “Senator Graham is neither a subject nor target of the investigation, simply a witness.”
“This is all politics. Fulton County is engaged in a fishing expedition and working in concert with the January 6 Committee in Washington. Any information from an interview or deposition with Senator Graham would immediately be shared with the January 6 Committee,” Daniel and Austin wrote in the statement.
Graham’s legal team also stated that as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sen. Graham was “well within his right to discuss with state officials the processes and procedures around administering elections.”
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’ special grand jury wants to hear from Graham because the Republican senator allegedly made two calls to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and his staff in the wake of the 2020 election.
According to court filings, Graham “questioned Raffensperger and his staff about reexamining certain absentee ballots cast in Georgia in order to explore the possibility of a more favorable outcome for former President Donald Trump.”
The filing also states that Graham brought up allegations of widespread voter fraud, which have been widely debunked.
Willis’ office said it will respond in court if necessary.
“Should witnesses choose to challenge an order that they testify before the Special Purpose Grand Jury, the District Attorney will respond in the appropriate court to compel their appearance,” said Deputy District Attorney Jeff DiSantis.
This story has been updated with additional details.
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