Lindsey Graham defends Trump in hush money trial, calling it a ‘complete sham’

South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham defended former President Donald Trump in the midst of his New York hush money trial, calling the entire ordeal a “crock” during an appearance on CNN’s State of the Union.

Graham dismissed the trial as “selective prosecution” and criticized the testimony from former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, who detailed a scheme to suppress negative stories about Trump before the 2016 election.

While Graham echoed Trump’s claims of political motivation behind the charges, he diverged on the issue of presidential immunity. The matter is now in the hands of the Supreme Court, with Trump’s legal team arguing for immunity unless impeached and convicted first.

Graham expressed his belief that presidential immunity should exist for Trump, like for other presidents, but emphasized the need to define the boundaries of such immunity. He stressed the importance of protecting the presidency to prevent the country from becoming a “Banana Republic.”

The senator also highlighted that most Americans are more concerned about their own issues, such as inflation, crime, and border security, rather than Trump’s legal troubles. He criticized the ongoing legal battles against Trump as “selective prosecution for political purposes.”

As the debate over presidential immunity continues, Graham’s defense of Trump and criticism of the legal proceedings shed light on the political divisions surrounding the former president’s legal challenges.