Sen. Lindsey Graham (RS.C.) on Wednesday urged his Republican colleagues not to form a “lynch mob” to block President-elect Trump's controversial selection of Matt Gaetz as U.S. attorney general. I appealed.
The Republican-controlled Senate should not give Gaetz a “rubber stamp,” Graham said in a statement after meeting with his nominee and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance, calling for a fair process.
“My record is clear. I tend to hold off on selecting presidential cabinet members unless there is evidence to suggest disqualification,” the South Carolina senator said.
“I'm worried that the process surrounding Gates' nomination has turned into an angry mob, with unverified allegations being treated as if they were true. I've seen this movie before. There is.”
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Sen. Lindsey Graham (RS.C.) waits for the arrival of President Joe Biden and the University of South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team in the East Room of the White House on Tuesday, September 10, 2024 in Washington. Welcome to the event and celebrate the 2023-2024 NCAA Championship season. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Graham appeared to be alluding to the 2018 confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, which was rocked by Christine Blasey Ford's unproven sexual assault allegations. Mr. Kavanaugh flatly denied Mr. Ford's claims and could not specify the time and place of the alleged assault or provide corroborating witnesses to corroborate his account.
Kavanaugh was narrowly confirmed mostly along party lines after Mr. Ford gave emotional testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, which was chaired by Mr. Graham.
President Trump's choice of ally Gates to lead the Justice Department surprised many Republicans, as he has no law enforcement experience and has faced allegations of misconduct. Gaetz resigned from Congress shortly after President Trump's announcement.
Gaetz is under investigation by the House Ethics Committee, which subpoenaed him in September for an ongoing investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct with a minor. Gates has denied any wrongdoing and told the investigative committee that he would “no longer voluntarily participate in investigations.”
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Christine Blasey Ford, the woman who accused Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault, testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2018. (Pool/Getty Images)
The firebrand former Florida lawmaker has not been convicted of any crimes related to these allegations. He was previously investigated by the Justice Department for a year, but federal prosecutors ultimately decided not to prosecute.
Still, the allegations could make Gaetz's confirmation even more difficult in the Republican-controlled Senate. A source told Fox News Digital that Gaetz is “on the phone” to address concerns of Republican senators ahead of next year's confirmation hearing. He also tours the Capitol with Vance to meet directly with senators.
A Trump transition official told Fox News, “The meeting was fruitful, with AG nominee Gaetz hearing the senators' thoughts on the role of the Department of Justice and the confirmation process. Gaetz is hoping that through this process, Gaetz will have more I look forward to meeting with members of Congress on the Hill,” he told Fox News. digital.
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Missouri) said earlier this week that he had a “pleasant conversation” with Gaetz, who said he “wants the opportunity to clear his name in this hearing.”
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President-elect Donald Trump and former Congressman Matt Gaetz are standing side by side. (Getty Images)
Graham urged his colleagues to give Gaetz that chance.
“I urge all of my colleagues in the Senate, especially Republicans, to not join the lynch mob and give the process a chance to move forward. After a years-long investigation by the Department of Justice, no charges were brought against Matt Gaetz. “This is something we all need to remember,” he said Wednesday.
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“I would also encourage my colleagues to go back to proven processes and give candidates the opportunity to receive relevant information and make their case for why they should be approved. This standard is , which I have followed for many years, and have served the Senate and the country well.”
Fox News Digital's Stepheny Price contributed to this report.
