Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has temporarily blocked Sen. Lindsey Graham from testifying before a grand jury investigating whether former President Donald Trump and his allies acted illegally in attempting to overturn the 2020 election result in Georgia.
Thomas issued an administrative stay preventing Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis from compelling Graham (R-SC) to testify before a grand jury. Willis has until Thursday to file a brief justifying her subpoena of the longtime GOP lawmaker.
Graham asked the Supreme Court on Friday to quash the summons, claiming immunity from testifying under the Constitution’s speech or debate clause.
The senator’s request came one day after a unanimous three-judge panel of the Atlanta-based 11th Circuit Court of Appeals shot down his bid to toss the subpoena, but narrowed the scope of the questions Graham could be asked.
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas issued an administrative stay preventing Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis from compelling Graham to testify before a Georgia grand jury. Eric Lee – Pool via CNP / MEGA
Sen. Lindsey Graham asked the Supreme Court on Friday to quash the summons. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz/File Photo
The senator’s request came one day after a unanimous three-judge panel of the Atlanta-based 11th Circuit Court of Appeals shot down his bid to toss the subpoena. REUTERS/Dustin ChambersWillis is seeking Graham’s testimony related to phone calls he had with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger in the weeks after Trump’s 2020 defeat in the Peach State.
The senator maintains that the calls with Raffensperger were part of a “legislative fact-finding” mission.
Once Willis files her response later this week, Thomas can decide the question on his own or — as is more likely — refer the matter to the full court.
