While some Republican senators say the House impeachment managers’ arguments have been “damning,” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) is claiming their remarks have been “offensive” and not persuasive.
During an appearance on Fox News’ “Hannity” on Wednesday evening, Graham said, “The not-guilty vote is growing after today. I think most Republicans found the presentation by the House managers offensive and absurd.”
He went on to describe the riot at the Capitol as “terrible” and that he hopes the individuals involved are prosecuted.
However, he added, “I don’t remember any of these House managers saying a damn thing when they were trying to break into my house and going after Susan Collins and spitting on all of us.”
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The House impeachment managers are arguing in the Senate’s trial of former President Donald Trump that he incited the mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) also weighed in on the Democrats’ arguments, “They spent a lot of time yesterday convincing us what I already knew and believed. And that is that the attack on Jan. 6 was outrageous, criminal, deadly, it could have been far worse, I knew that as well.”
However, he signaled that he did not believe the impeachment managers swayed his opinion on whether impeachment was appropriate.
While Graham called their arguments “offensive,” Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said the managers have presented a “strong case.”
“The evidence that has been presented thus far is pretty damning,” she added.
It is seen as unlikely that enough Republicans would vote to convict Trump, which would require 67-votes. The Senate is currently split 50-50, which means at least 17 Republicans would have to vote to convict.
However, the majority of the Senate Republican caucus has twice voted to declare that an impeachment trial of a former president is unconstitutional.
