Sen. Lindsey Graham warned that any potential pardons being considered for people who took part in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot would tarnish President Trump‘s legacy.
The South Carolina Republican told Fox News host Maria Bartiromo on Sunday he believes anyone who breached the Capitol in a riot that left five people dead must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
“I don’t care if you went and spread flowers on the floor, you breached the security of the Capitol, interrupted a joint session of Congress, you tried to intimidate, assault, you should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and to seek a pardon of these people would be wrong, I think it would destroy President Trump, and I hope we don’t go down that road,” Graham said.
Graham added that he believes Trump is the “most important figure” within the Republican Party and defended the president’s rally speech that encouraged people to go to Capitol Hill to “cheer on” lawmakers to object to the election results.
“President Trump never said go into the Capitol and try to interrupt a joint session of Congress,” Graham said. “That was the choice. They made and they need to live with that choice.”
More than 100 people have been arrested for their role in the riot. The Justice Department has also opened over 170 case files related to the event. However, prosecutors are not in complete agreement about whether there was the intention by rioters to hurt or kill lawmakers, an accusation that’s carried weight across social media and some news outlets.
Local and federal officials in and around Washington, D.C., have increased security measures ahead of Inauguration Day on Wednesday.
About 20,000 armed National Guard troops are expected to secure the area ahead of the traditional swearing-in ceremony for President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.
Trump said he will not attend the inauguration and will head to Florida before the events begin. Vice President Mike Pence said he plans to attend.
