U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) responded publicly after learning that Special Counsel Jack Smith had subpoenaed his official and campaign phone records. According to Graham, U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg issued a gag order to Verizon, his carrier, instructing them not to notify him about the subpoena due to concerns that disclosure could lead to evidence destruction or witness intimidation.
Graham stated, “It is now clear that my official and campaign phone records were subpoenaed by Special Counsel Jack Smith. Worse, a judicial gag order was issued prohibiting me from being informed of the subpoena for at least a year because Judge Boasberg believed that if I were informed, it would lead to witness tampering and destruction of evidence. That is legal slander. I would like to know the factual predicate for issuing the gag order.”
He criticized Verizon’s response: “My carrier, Verizon, was extremely irresponsible by complying with this subpoena. Instead, they should have followed AT&T’s example and declined to turn over the records because it is a violation of the speech and debate clause of the U.S. Constitution. I also expect the House of Representatives to investigate Judge Boasberg’s potential misconduct, which could be grounds for his impeachment.”
Graham called for further investigation into the matter: “The misconduct here is worthy of a Watergate-style investigation. It is my firm belief that there should be a Senate Select Committee formed to get to the bottom of this constitutional abuse and potential ethical and legal misconduct by Jack Smith as well as any potential judicial misconduct by Judge Boasberg. This model served the nation well during Watergate, and it is appropriate for the gravity of the offenses. This fishing expedition against at least ten Republican U.S. Senators by Special Counsel Jack Smith is the biggest violation of separation of powers in our nation’s history.”
He linked these actions to political motivations regarding former President Donald Trump: “The driver of this outrageous conduct was a desire to stop President Trump’s 2024 campaign for president. Three days after Donald Trump announced he would seek the presidency on November 15, 2022, Jack Smith was appointed special counsel. Within months, 91 felony indictments were issued primarily in the deepest blue jurisdictions of the country against President Trump. What was a trickle before his announcement became an avalanche all because he dared seek the presidency again. I am convinced that if Donald Trump had chosen not to run, none of this would have happened.”
