COLUMBIA — U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham doubled down on his stance that President Donald Trump’s pardons of all Jan. 6 rioters sends the wrong signal when it comes to those guilty of attacking law enforcement.
“I don’t want to do anything that would invite violence against those who risk their lives every day to protect us,” Graham, R-S.C., told reporters Jan. 27 during a press conference at the Columbia Chamber of Commerce.
“So I don’t like anything, no matter even if a friend does it, that would send the wrong signal,” he said.
Trump issued nearly 1,500 pardons and commuted 14 sentences of those involved in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol where thousands stormed the building on the false claim that the 2020 election was stolen and rigged against Trump. The repeat president signed the pardons within his first hours of taking office.
At least 34 of those pardoned are from South Carolina including some who were involved in violence on police.
Graham’s comments were a continuation of a statement he made on NBC News’ “Meet the Press” a day earlier.
“Pardoning the people who went into the Capitol and beat up a police officer violently I think was a mistake, because it seems to suggest that’s an OK thing to do,” he said.
Not everyone was pleased with Graham’s characterizations on the pardons, including some members of the South Carolina Legislature who have been steadfastly behind the president. The comment drew more heat from the far right of the GOP pushing to have Graham primaried in his re-election bid next year.
Rep. April Cromer, R-Anderson, vice chair of the House Freedom Caucus, posted comments about Graham’s opinion on X, formerly known as Twitter, along with her husband who posted “Bye bye Lindsey. Long Overdue.”
Cromer added to her husband’s post, “Is this an announcement of some sort?”
Graham, who is considered a close Trump supporter, also mentioned former President Joe Biden’s pardons of several of his family members during his last few hours in office, adding that Congress should maybe revisit the pardoning power of the president if “this continues.”
Graham told reporters at the Chamber of Commerce he has “always had the police officers’ back,” and until he leaves his job as a senator he will do everything he can to support police, adding “We don’t want to encourage violence.”
Since 2021, Graham has been firm in his stance that pardons for Jan. 6 rioters would be wrong, and added he thought it would “destroy President Trump.”
Senate Democrats, meanwhile, offered a resolution Jan. 26 condemning the blanket pardon, saying among those pardoned by Trump were 169 people who pleaded guilty to assaulting police officers in the Jan. 6 cases.