Graham says McConnell's speech blasting Trump after trial will haunt GOP in 2022 midterms [View all]

Christal Hayes, Nicholas Wu, and Bart Jansen
USA TODAY

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said Sunday he thought Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s speech blasting former President Donald Trump would be used against Republicans in campaign ads next year when the party fights to reclaim the Senate.

“He got a load off his chest, obviously, but unfortunately he put a load on the back of Republicans,” Graham, a staunch Trump defender, told Fox News Sunday. “That speech you will see in 2022 campaigns.”

Although McConnell, R-Ky., voted for acquittal, he said Trump's "crescendo of conspiracy theories" and false claims of a stolen election led to the riots in which his supporters rampaged through Capitol, bloodied police, tried to hunt down House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and chanted about murdering Vice President Mike Pence.

“They did this because they had been fed wild falsehoods by the most powerful man on earth because he was angry he had lost an election,” McConnell said. “Former President Trump’s actions preceded the riot for a disgraceful dereliction of duty.”

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https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/02/14/live-politics-updates-congress-looks-forward-after-trump-impeachment/4477714001/