South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham has had his differences with former President Donald Trump in the past, but his latest attack against The Don may be one of his most brutal to date.
Graham, along with a cadre of other GOP Senators, took umbrage with recent comments by Trump in which he promised pardons for those convicted for their roles in the attempted insurrection of January 6th, 2021 if he were to be reelected in 2024.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), one of Trump’s closest allies, told The Hill that granting pardons to Jan. 6 protesters is “a bad idea.”
“Pardons are given to people who admit misconduct, rehabilitate themselves. They’re not supposed to be used for other purposes,” he said.
Other Republican senators are joining Graham in criticizing Trump’s promise to pardon the Jan. 6 protesters as inappropriate.
“I don’t think potential candidates should hold pardons out as a promise,” said Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), who is usually a reliable Trump ally. “It’s somewhat problematic for me on a moral level and an ethical level — sort of like promising other giveaways to particular individuals.
“I prefer avoiding those kinds of things,” he said.
And also:
Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) said he wouldn’t support granting pardons to people convicted of crimes because of their actions on Jan. 6.
“If he were elected, he would have a constitutional ability to do it,” he said of Trump’s promise of pardons. “I would disagree with it. I think there was insurrection and I think these folks need to be punished.
“I was there. This was truly violent. People were injured, people were killed. I have very little mercy for the individuals that were involved in that activity that day,” Rounds added.
Donald Trump and other MAGA Republicans have suggested that those jailed for their actions on January 6th are “political prisoners” who were simply exercising their First Amendment rights during the storming of the Capitol.
