Lindsey Graham REJECTS Trump’s demand for witnesses including the Bidens at his impeachment trial

Lindsey Graham went against the president on Wednesday, claiming he would not approve Donald Trump’s request for witnesses in the Senate impeachment trial.

During a press conference as House members debated two articles of impeachment on the floor Wednesday, Graham reiterated he wants the matter to be done with as soon as possible once it reaches the upper chamber.

‘When it gets here, my goal is to have a short trial as possible. What does that translate to? When 51 people are ready to vote, that’s when we’ll vote,’ the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee told reporters gathered at the Capitol.

‘I am not going to support witnesses begin called for by the president. I’m not going to support witnesses being called for by Senator Schumer. We’re going to vote on the same product the House used,’ he continued.

Senator Lindsey Graham told reporters gathered at the Capitol Wednesday that he will not approve Donald Trump’s request for witnesses at the impeachment trial once it reaches the Senate. ‘I am not going to support witnesses begin called for by the president,’ he said

Joe Biden

Hunter Biden

That rejection would include Trump’s desire to have political rival and former Vice President Joe Biden (left) and his son Hunter Biden (right) testify regarding Hunter’s board position with Ukrainian natural gas firm Burisma Holdings

When asked why he doesn’t want a longer hearing to have their chance to argue against impeachment in the Senate, Graham repeated what he has been saying for weeks: ‘I’ve made up my mind about the accusations.’

‘I’ve seen the transcript,’ he told reporters. ‘It’s hearsay upon hearsay. I’ve never believed this was an impeachable offense, I’ve got no problem with the phone call.’

That rejection from Graham would include the White House’s desire to call political rival and former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter – who is at the center of the impeachment inquiry based on his role with a Ukrainian natural gas from from 2014-2019.

‘Joe Biden is truly a good friend. I’ve got no evidence that Joe Biden did anything wrong. All I’m suggesting that his son being on that board raises questions,’ he said during his press conference Wednesday.

‘I know a lot of people on the president’s team want to call Hunter Biden and Joe Biden and go into all this. We can look at these accusations outside of impeachment,’ he insisted.

‘So I’m going to tell the president ‘no’ to his witness request, because I think what is best for the country is to get this behind us as soon as possible,’ he concluded.

The senator from South Carolina, an ally of Donald Trump ‘s, said on Sunday that he doesn’t believe a long impeachment hearing in the Senate would be good for the country, adding again that he made up his mind on the matter.

‘I understand the president’s frustration, but I think what’s best for the country is to get this thing over with. I am clearly made up my mind, I’m not trying to hide the fact that I have disdain for the accusation and the process,’ Graham told CBS News’ Face the Nation host Margaret Brennan Sunday morning.

‘So I don’t need any witnesses,’ he continued. ‘The president can make a request to call witnesses, they can make a request to call Mike Pence and Pompeo and Joe Biden and Hunter Biden. I am ready to vote on the underlying articles. I don’t really need to hear a lot of witnesses.’

Graham, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, said Sunday morning that he has already made up his mind on impeachment. 'I am clearly made up my mind, I'm not trying to hide the fact that I have disdain for the accusation and the process,' he said in an interview

Graham, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, said Sunday morning that he has already made up his mind on impeachment. ‘I am clearly made up my mind, I’m not trying to hide the fact that I have disdain for the accusation and the process,’ he said in an interview

Mike Pence

Mike Pompeo

The South Carolina senator warned that if the Senate went ahead with calling witnesses, the Democrats would call Vice President Mike Pence (left) and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (right)

Graham also said he would advise the president to take the gift of a short trail and not drag out the impeachment proceedings more when the Republican-controlled chamber is ready to clear him of the two articles of impeachment.

‘Well I tell the president if somebody is ready to acquit you, I’d get out of the way,’ the Republican lawmaker asserted, claiming that it would turn into a ‘circus’ of witnesses if Trump tries to drag out the Senate hearing.

‘You start calling the witnesses the president wants, then they’re going to start calling Mike Pence and the Secretary of State Pompeo. I don’t think that’s good for the country, I don’t think it’s good for the Senate,’ Graham said. ‘I want to make my decision based on the trial record established in the House as a basis for impeachment. That’s just me – one senator.’

‘But I think there’s a general desire by a lot of senators to not to turn this thing into a circus. I understand the president’s frustration by being shut out in the House, but I need to do what I think is best for the country,’ he finished.

Graham’s Sunday morning comments echoed his remarks at the Doha Forum in Qatar Saturday.

‘[I’m] trying to give a pretty clear signal I have made up my mind. I’m not trying to pretend to be a fair juror here. What I see coming, happening today, is just a partisan nonsense,’ he said.

‘This thing will come to the Senate, and it will die quickly, and I will do everything I can to make it die quickly,’ Graham continued in his comments.

The president is facing two articles of impeachment – abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.

The charges stem from his conversations with his Ukrainian counterpart over the summer that show Trump urging the European nation to launch an investigation into the Bidens. 

Democrats claim Trump was attempting to solicit a foreign nation to interfere in the 2020 elections to favor him, but the president insists there was no wrongdoing – claiming he was solely focused on investigating corruption.

Graham and Trump pushed back on impeachment as the House debated the two articles against the president ahead of a vote scheduled for later in the day. 

‘This is the first impeachment trial being driven by partisan politicians,’ Graham told CBS News Sunday morning.

‘Conducted behind closed doors, the testimony was selectively leaked, the president was denied the ability to participate meaningful in the House hearing, and I want to end it. I have nothing but disdain for this,’ he continued in heated comments.

‘I’m trying to make myself clear – what you’re doing in the House is bad for the presidency,’ he directed a Democrats. ‘You’re impeaching the President of the United States in a matter of weeks, not months. You had a two years investigation, that wasn’t enough. I think this whole thing is a crock. You’re shutting the president out the process in the House. Any partisan group could do this in the future. You’re weaponizing impeachment and I want to end it, I don’t want to legitimize it.’

‘I hate what they’re doing.’

Trump sent a tweet lambasting Democrats as they spent their time on the House floor voicing criticism of the president and support for impeachment and ultimate removal.

‘SUCH ATROCIOUS LIES BY THE RADICAL LEFT, DO NOTHING DEMOCRATS. THIS IS AN ASSAULT ON AMERICA, AND AN ASSAULT ON THE REPUBLICAN PARTY!!!!’ he exclaimed in an all caps tweet.

Leaders in the Republican-controlled Senate have made it clear they will work to make the proceedings as quick and painless as possible when it reaches the Senate in the new year. 

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