Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has temporarily blocked an order for U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham to testify before a grand jury investigating efforts to overturn Georgia’s results in the 2020 presidential election.Graham, a South Carolina Republican and ally of Donald Trump, had been subpoenaed to testify in a criminal investigation about interference in the state, which Joe Biden won narrowly over Trump.
Trump had alleged there was widespread voter fraud in Georgia, for which there is no evidence. Graham had made calls to election officials in the state while Trump was making these claims, and that’s what he was supposed to testify about.
His testimony was scheduled for Thursday, CNN reports. The investigation is led by Fulton County, Ga., District Attorney Fani Willis.Graham has fought hard to avoid speaking to the grand jury.
He says he shouldn’t have to testify because he made the calls as part of his work as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and certain actions by lawmakers are exempt from criminal investigation.