Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) asked the Supreme Court Friday to block his required appearance before a Georgia grand jury investigating possible attempts by President Donald Trump and his allies to disrupt the state’s 2020 presidential election.
A unanimous three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit on Thursday turned down Graham’s attempt to block a subpoena from Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis (D). Graham had claimed that a sitting senator is shielded from such investigations. A district court judge had said Graham must testify, but narrowed the range of questions prosecutors can ask.
Without a stay of the lower courts’ rulings, Graham’s lawyer Donald F. McGahn told the Supreme Court, “Senator Graham will suffer the precise injury he is appealing to prevent: being questioned in state court about his legislative activity and official acts.”
McGahn, a former counsel to Trump, asked Justice Clarence Thomas, the justice designated to hear emergency requests from the 11th Circuit, for at least a temporary stay. Thomas could act on his own or refer the matter to the entire court.
This is a developing story. It will be updated.
A unanimous three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit on Thursday turned down Graham’s attempt to block a subpoena from Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis (D). Graham had claimed that a sitting senator is shielded from such investigations. A district court judge had said Graham must testify, but narrowed the range of questions prosecutors can ask.
Without a stay of the lower courts’ rulings, Graham’s lawyer Donald F. McGahn told the Supreme Court, “Senator Graham will suffer the precise injury he is appealing to prevent: being questioned in state court about his legislative activity and official acts.”
McGahn, a former counsel to Trump, asked Justice Clarence Thomas, the justice designated to hear emergency requests from the 11th Circuit, for at least a temporary stay. Thomas could act on his own or refer the matter to the entire court.
This is a developing story. It will be updated.
