Sen. Lindsey Graham reportedly called for rioters to be shot as lawmakers were forced to evacuate the Senate chamber during the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
The Washington Post on Sunday published the results of a lengthy investigation: a three-part series, reconstructing in detail what happened before, during and after the riot when a mob of Trump’s supporters stormed the Capitol in a bid to overturn President Joe Biden‘s election victory.
The second part, titled “Bloodshed,” goes into detail about how then Vice President Mike Pence and members of Congress were evacuated from the Senate chamber after rioters breached the building.
The Senate and House leaders were evacuated by Capitol Police and transported to an undisclosed location, according to The Post, while many lawmakers remained in their chambers for a few minutes but were then taken to safety in the Hart Senate Office Building.
According to The Post, Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, was furious that senators were forced to flee their own chamber. He yelled at the sergeant-at-arms and urged him to shoot rioters in the mob, the newspaper reported, citing a Republican senator with knowledge of the exchange.
“What are you doing? Take back the Senate! You’ve got guns. Use them,” Graham reportedly shouted. He continued: “We give you guns for a reason. Use them.”
Immediately after the riot at the Capitol, Graham turned against Donald Trump and refused to join his GOP colleagues in objecting to the certification of Biden’s win.
In remarks after lawmakers reconvened following the riot, Graham declared he was done with the former president.
“Trump and I, we’ve had a hell of a journey,” he said. “I hate it to end this way. Oh, my god, I hate it. From my point of view, he’s been a consequential president. But today… all I can say is count me out, enough is enough.”
But he soon fell back in line, defending Trump as he was impeached a historic second time over the Capitol insurrection.
Earlier this year, Graham insisted that Trump remains the most popular Republican in the country and is essential to the GOP going forward.
“To try to erase Donald Trump from the Republican party is insane. And the people who try to erase him are going to wind up getting erased,” Graham said in an interview with Fox News‘ Sean Hannity.
“It’s impossible for this party to move forward without President Trump being its leader, because the people who are conservatives have chosen him as their leader.”
Graham’s office has been contacted for additional comment.
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