On Tuesday, the Supreme Court rejected Sen. Lindsey Graham’s request to block a grand jury subpoena for testimony in an investigation into attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Graham was among the notable Republicans to pressure him to toss out mail-in ballots in an attempt to overturn the election results, according to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. Graham asked the Supreme Court to intervene, arguing his conversation with Raffensperger was protected speech or debate.
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas protected Graham from testifying last week, to which Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis replied with a response to Graham’s request, noting it was crucial to hear his testimony: “While the harm to the public’s interest in the timely and effective resolution of this investigation would be certain, Senator Graham faces no danger of harm should a stay be denied.” The District of Northern Georgia’s 11th Circuit Court of Appeals then ruled Graham must testify and the questioning of the senator must be kept specifically to his efforts to persuade Raffensperger on the election results.
The Supreme Court agreed with the lower courts decision, issuing an order on Tuesday stating “a stay or injunction is not necessary to safeguard the Senator’s Speech or Debate Clause immunity”. Graham is currently scheduled to testify on Nov. 17.
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