Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said “Salem witches got a better deal” than President Trump after viewing the House Judiciary Committee’s impeachment plans.
The president’s ally condemned House Democrats’ setup of the impeachment inquiry on Twitter after House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) sent a letter to the White House inviting the president to attend the Judiciary hearings beginning on Dec. 4. The president is supposed to respond by Sunday.
Graham said that was unfair, noting that Trump was being asked to testify after evidence had already been collected in hearings conducted by the House Intelligence Committee.
“Jerry Nadler is inviting President Trump to participate in the Judiciary Committee hearings — after all the facts were gathered in Schiff’s Intel Committee — where the president’s team was shut out,” he posted. “Salem witches got a better deal than this.”
The Judiciary hearings were announced Tuesday as the third phase of the impeachment inquiry as Democrats investigate whether Trump abused his powers by withholding aid to Ukraine to pressure the country to investigate a political rival, Vice President Joe Biden. The hearings will feature constitutional lawyers to analyze the president’s actions.
The president and lawmakers supporting him protested the initial hearings in the House Intelligence Committee, saying Trump was not given an opportunity to defend himself.