Sen. Lindsey Graham argued Tuesday that nearly the entire U.S. Senate disagrees with President-elect Trump’s claim that the Russians did not attempt to interfere with the November elections.
Graham told CNN’s Jim Sciutto that of the 100 sitting senators, 99 of them disagree with Trump, adding that he and Sen. John McCain plan to hold hearings on the subject when the 115th Congress kicks off next week.
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“There are 100 United States senators. Amy Klobuchar is on this trip with us. She’s a Democrat from Minnesota. I would say that 99 of us believe the Russians did this and we’re going to do something about it,” said Graham, who is planning a hearing with McCain on Russia’s interference with US elections. “We’re going to put sanctions together that hit Putin as an individual and his inner circle for interfering in our election, and they’re doing it all over the world — not just in the United States.
Graham also told Sciutto that Russia similarly has made efforts to interfere in elections in Estonia, one of the three Baltic states the South Carolina Republican and McCain are visiting this week as part of a three-day trip, adding that what happened in November is not exclusive to the U.S.
Trump has steadfastly denied any claims that the Russians attempted to interfere in the election, despite the FBI and CIA saying they did. He recently told Fox News that the claim is “ridiculous.”
“It’s just another excuse. I don’t believe it,” Trump said. “Every week it’s another excuse. We had a massive landslide victory, as you know, in the Electoral College.”
Earlier in the day, McCain also tried to calm nerves in the Baltic states, telling them that the United States is committed to NATO and defending any of the nations in case of an attack by the Russians.
Graham did not reveal the lone Senator who concurs with Trump.
