Linseed is mad. Oh yes he is. The senator’s reactions range between abject terror of his own constituents (see: being trailed at the airport and threatened, or booed during events in his own home county) or faux rage at imaginary slights which are directed against him as part of his MAGA pact with Donald Trump. Now Graham has decided that he’s going to do Donald a solid and go after one of his worst enemies, none other than Jack Smith. Per Adam Parkomenko, Graham said on Fox News this morning that he was going to sue the Department Of Justice for “tens of millions of dollars” for actions Jack Smith took and I can think of nothing I would like to see more. Fox News:
Former special counsel Jack Smith allegedly tracked the private communications and phone calls of nearly a dozen Republican lawmakers, including Graham, as part of his investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot, Fox News Digital learned last month.
Sens. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., Ron Johnson, R-Wis., Josh Hawley, R-Mo., Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., and Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pa., were all reportedly subjected to the tracking as well.
Graham criticized the timing of what many Republicans have called lawfare against President Donald Trump once he announced his 2024 presidential run.
“Three days later, Jack Smith is appointed special counsel in November 2022. By August of 2023, there are 91 felony charges against him [Trump] coming from New York, Washington and Atlanta. My phone records were seized as part of this. I am tired of this,” he said.
“Arctic Frost” was opened inside the FBI on April 13, 2022. Smith was appointed as special counsel to take over the probe in November 2022.
Graham previously unloaded on the investigation during a separate appearance on the Fox News Channel, insisting that Jack Smith’s investigators need to “pay big” for the probe, while insisting the move was a violation of the separation of powers.
At first blush, this is something that could fall apart the minute that it’s begun for the simple reason that if and when Jack Smith is sued, (which I’m assuming is Graham’s intention, as he sues the DOJ for actions Smith took on its behalf) Smith automatically gains the right to depose Graham or other involved parties and also do discovery. That means that Smith could bring to light a lot of dirt and we mean a lot.
So bring it on, Linseed. My kneejerk reaction is that Graham won’t do it because he knows the reality of the situation as well as anybody else. This is just hot air to impress the rubes. But maybe I’m wrong. I certainly hope I am because I would love nothing more than to see Jack Smith shine a spotlight into all the dark corners surrounding January 6. That would be a delight.
So please proceed, as Obama used to say. If there is one public servant in America who can get all the goods out there for everybody to see, assuming he’s sued, it is Jack Smith. Graham cannot be so stupid as to know that, but I guess he figures that this is good performance theater and that’s the only level that Graham can operate on anymore.
Experience has taught me not to say anything like ‘they couldn’t be so stupid’ about anything contemplated concerning republicans.
They can be and are.
Well, Lindsay’s more than welcome to try but, a couple of problems he’s got to overcome.
For starters, Smith was acting in his (legal) role as an investigator, looking into possible criminal activities and, while the Constitution protects lawmakers over speech and content they make in their official Congressional duties, that does NOT provide blanket protection from any other circumstances (that’s why the cops can pull over and even arrest members of Congress for DUI or a suspected DUI).
Secondly, the DOJ that will be the subject of the lawsuit is BONDI’S DOJ. It’s virtually impossible to sue any federal department–especially a Cabinet department–for actions taken in a prior administration (unless said actions are still continuing and, as far as I’m aware, ALL investigations into Drumpf’s actions on January 6 were shut down, effective Jan 20, 2025).
So, yeah, it’s more likely that Miss Lindsay’s just posturing for the MAGAts and he’ll make up some lie as to why he can’t actually sue. (As for the amount he’s wanting to sue for, there’s NO way he can justify that figure. As a Senator, he only makes $174,000 a year and the “intrusion” into his “privacy” doesn’t even come close to warranting an 8-figure lawsuit.)
Graham served in the military as a JAG lawyer. He might not practice anymore and it might have been a while but by all accounts he was a good lawyer. As such he knows damn well that if he DOES go ahead and sue HE will be subject to discovery which can go beyond the scope of the actual lawsuit. In other words it’s an attention grabbing bluff.
to rephrase concinnity these aren’t the sharpest crayons in the box, even the ones who use to be good lawyers. i do hope you’re right and he goes through with it. maybe some of the others will as well and at least one will follow through.