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During a break in Thursday's Senate Judiciary Hearing for President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh, South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham spoke to reporters. When asked if he still intended to vote to confirm Kavanaugh, Graham stated he did.
A vocal supporter of Kavanaugh, Graham then added a statement about the confirmation process from his perspective. His comments took an understandably partisan view of the sequence of events.
The South Carolina Republican repeated many of the talking points the President and Fox News use to defend Kavanaugh. He also tried to discredit the need for a full background check—like the one conducted on Justice Clarence Thomas after Dr. Anita Hill came forward—and attacked Dr. Christine Blasey Ford's credibility again.
But just before pushing his way past the gathered reporters, the GOP member of the Senate Judiciary Committee called on his fellow Republican members to support Kavanaugh or "God help us as Republicans, because this happens to us, this never happens to them."
He then addressed his Democratic colleagues in the Senate and stated:
"Let me tell you my Democratic friends, if this is the new norm, then you better watch out for your nominees."
Watch the video here.
Lindsey Graham found his voice in the hallway and he sounds rattled. He's pushing for the vote still and then thre… https://t.co/BFeK5trMAq— Red T Raccoon (@Red T Raccoon) 1538069641.0
"I feel ambushed" -- Sen. Lindsey Graham (R), visibly outraged, tells reporters as he ticks through a series of pro… https://t.co/u3jyypImYm— Philip Rucker (@Philip Rucker) 1538072591.0
Lindsey Graham right now: “I feel ambushed... it’s as if the Democrats pinned me down on a bed and tried to rape me… https://t.co/zYovvnHA0Q— Reza Aslan (@Reza Aslan) 1538074262.0
Graham did not specify if his threat included only future Democratic Presidential appointments to the Supreme Court or if he intended to threaten all future appointments made by a Democrat in retaliation.
As for his claims about only the GOP being targets of accusations of sexual misconduct, people quickly rebutted the Senator.
Lindsey Graham just falsely told a bunch of reporters that Democrats are never subjected to accusations of sexual m… https://t.co/KcrbsGEOLk— Brian Beutler (@Brian Beutler) 1538068382.0
Has Lindsey Graham lost his mind? Here are just a few Democrats subjected to accusations of sexual misconduct: Fi… https://t.co/IGbL0cKXVA— Steven Greenhouse (@Steven Greenhouse) 1538071083.0
Lindsey Graham was heavily involved in pursuing Bill Clinton's sexual misconduct. also this is provably false as Al… https://t.co/akxc6j89co— Bills_Chick (@Bills_Chick) 1538071944.0
“It never happens to them [democrats].” @LindseyGrahamSC You disingenuous hack, have you forgotten about Al Franke… https://t.co/dQTlvfadqi— Steve Bryant writes and draws comics (@Steve Bryant writes and draws comics) 1538070966.0
As part of his indictment against Democrats, Graham also stated the review of sexual assault allegations against Kavanaugh amounted to a delay tactic, trying to push the vote until after the November midterm elections. However, Graham failed to acknowledge his own party's use of delay tactics for President Barack Obama's final SCOTUS nominee, Merrick Garland.
But people happily reminded him.
Oh @LindseyGrahamSC, did you really threaten the Democrats future Supreme Court Nominees? You mean you Senate Repub… https://t.co/zV1J65QSue— Chaz Bono (@Chaz Bono) 1538069438.0
Were democrats this upset & did they whine like Lindsey Graham when Merrick Garland didn't get a Supreme Court nomination hearing?— Kay Shan (@Kay Shan) 1538073198.0
So what you are saying @LindseyGrahamSC is that you think Democrats have been playing politics with a nomination to… https://t.co/wN5gYt84Lf— Jasper (@Jasper) 1538073674.0
Graham's threat of retaliation did not sit well either.
People online found it hard to believe a sitting member of Congress would make a threat so openly in front of the press.
.@LindseyGrahamSC just pathetically attacked Christine Blasey Ford. And continued on a long drunken sounding ramble… https://t.co/38N6sNV8Fn— Scott Dworkin (@Scott Dworkin) 1538072953.0
OMG Sen. Lindsey Graham just blamed Democrats for Kavanaugh's accusers saying, "If this is how it's going to be, t… https://t.co/LHTttlmEe6— Grant Stern (@Grant Stern) 1538068611.0
In other words, Lindsey Graham thinks women are liars and that he can find more lying women to lie about Democrats.… https://t.co/bu3ESosOdy— Shannon Watts (@Shannon Watts) 1538069404.0
“If this is the new norm [Democrats] better watch out for your nominees.” That’s a thing @LindseyGrahamSC just said. https://t.co/2x8nSib4Jz— shauna (@shauna) 1538068724.0
Lindsey Graham threatening to falsely accuse Democrats in retribution for Kavanaugh. This is unconscionable. South… https://t.co/TIeNLYAkPV— Kaz Weida (@Kaz Weida) 1538069319.0
But one Twitter user thought Graham's threat included a silver lining.
Lindsey Graham just outright threatened the Democrats on television, warning that the Republicans will retaliate by… https://t.co/Re6bXPfHyi— Bob Cesca (@Bob Cesca) 1538068604.0