Even by politician standards, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) is a pathetic hack.
Interpreting him is easy: He’ll criticize anything Democratic, and defend anything Republican.
This time he’s defending an accused pedophile. He called any GOP senators who might vote against confirming Gaetz as attorney general a “lynch mob” (see story here).
“I fear the process surrounding the Gaetz nomination is turning into an angry mob, and unverified allegations are being treated as if they are true. I would urge all of my Senate colleagues, particularly Republicans, not to join the lynch mob and give the process a chance to move forward,” he said.
Wait, what? Senate confirmation is the process. What other process is he referring to? Does he think a nominee has to be convicted in a court of law to be found unsuitable for a cabinet appointment? That’s preposterous on its face.
But on that point, Trump was convicted of a felony in a court of law, by a jury of ordinary citizens, but Graham doesn’t think that should disqualify him from holding America’s highest public office. Graham, who once criticized Trump, turned into the most groveling sycophant of them all.
When the Senate is called upon to “advise and consent” on a presidential appointee, whether it be a judge or a cabinet post, the standard for acceptance or rejection is the public interest, not presumption of innocence or guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Graham, a lawyer and longtime senator, should know this.
The accusations of sexual misconduct against Gaetz aren’t fanciful, baseless or made up. There are victims and witnesses. There have been investigations. The fact he hasn’t been prosecuted isn’t determinative for confirmation purposes. Senators, including GOP senators, aren’t required to overlook the evidence piling up against him; they’re duty-bound to consider it.
The House speaker’s response is to cover up the House ethics investigation findings. Graham’s response is to argue that questioning Gaetz’s suitability to serve is a “lynching.” Both these guys are saying the evidence shouldn’t even be considered.
The bottom line is that Graham just keeps getting more ridiculous and clownish, and when the question before the senators is whether a serial sexual predator should be attorney general (the answer obviously is no), the best thing for them to do is ignore him. Far from covering himself with glory, this ex-military officer and lawyer is wallowing in doggy doo.