Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) signaled Tuesday that he is open to appointing a special counsel to investigate the Obama administration’s role in promoting the narrative that President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign colluded with Russia.
Speaking on Fox News Channel’s “Jesse Watters Primetime,” Graham responded to a question about “Obamagate” by pointing to mounting evidence of misconduct in the early stages of the Russia investigation. He highlighted that former Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself from the matter, leading to the appointment of Special Counsel Robert Mueller, and noted that an FBI lawyer had already been charged for manipulating evidence used to justify a surveillance warrant.
Graham emphasized that many of the individuals involved in the Mueller probe had been in contact with President Obama before Trump took office, raising questions about the political motives behind the investigation. “All of these nefarious characters that helped with the Mueller investigation were the same people Obama was talking to before Trump came into office,” Graham stated.
The senator further noted that new documents recently released are “stunning” and could justify additional investigation. He suggested that the origin of the Trump-Russia narrative may have begun before Mueller’s involvement, pointing to a potential abuse of power in the transition period between administrations.
Graham’s remarks suggest that support may be growing among congressional Republicans for a formal investigation into the conduct of Obama-era officials. If pursued, a special counsel could examine the broader effort to delegitimize President Trump’s 2016 victory and the subsequent actions taken by federal agencies.
