Lindsey Graham Shrugs Off ‘Catch-and-Kill’ Scheme to Help Trump Win Election

Despite being the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) seems unconcerned with the legal troubles facing presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump.

Graham appeared on CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday morning, where he was asked by host Dana Bash about the various developments in the cases against Trump, from the ongoing Manhattan hush-money trial to the Supreme Court hearing Trump’s arguments for presidential immunity.

When Bash asked Graham about former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker testifying he used to “catch and kill” potentially damaging stories about Trump to help his presidential run, Graham brushed it off as a common media strategy.

“You know, apparently a lot of people do this: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tiger Woods,” Graham said. “I think the whole thing is a crock.”

Bash responded by joking that Woods is not running for president.

Graham echoed Trump’s attacks on the trial, calling it a “political hit job,” and he criticized the motives behind the cases as “selective prosecution.” The case was brought about by a grand jury last year that resulted in 34 counts of falsifying business records stemming from hush-money payments made to former porn star Stormy Daniels.

Bash asked Graham if he would still support Trump if he was found guilty in any of the four ongoing criminal cases against him, to which he doubled down.

“If he’s convicted in any of these trials, would it change my view? No,” Graham said.

When discussing Trump’s claims of presidential immunity, the pair reached a consensus that it appeared likely the Supreme Court would hand the decision back to a lower court, a result which would likely be viewed as a “win” by the Trump camp as any decision would likely come after the November general election.

Graham seemed skeptical of the effect it would have against Trump, citing a CNN poll released Sunday morning found Biden trailing Trump 43-49 in a two-way race, and falling further behind Trump at 33-42 in a multi-candidate race.

“I think most Americans are not going to decide how to vote based on Trump’s legal troubles but the troubles they face,” Graham said.

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