Trump ally Graham asks top court to halt Georgia grand jury questioning

Oct 21 (Reuters) – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham requested the Supreme Court docket on Friday to halt a decrease court docket’s order compelling him to testify to a particular grand jury in Georgia investigating whether or not then-President Donald Trump and his allies tried to overturn 2020 election leads to the state.

Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, filed the emergency utility after a federal appeals court docket on Thursday denied his request for defense from testifying. The applying can be thought of by Justice Clarence Thomas, who handles emergency motions from Georgia.

Fulton County District Legal professional Fani Willis desires Graham to reply questions on telephone calls he made to a senior Georgia election official within the weeks after the November 2020 election.

Graham has argued that his place as a U.S. senator supplies him immunity from having to look earlier than the grand jury.

The appeals court docket on Thursday mentioned Graham should testify earlier than the grand jury, however he can select to dispute particular person questions.

Testimony from Graham, an ally of Trump, might shed additional mild on Trump allies coordinating to reverse the outcomes. Trump continues to look at rallies repeating his false claims of fraud in his election loss to Democrat Joe Biden.

Reporting by Ismail Shakil in Ottawa; modifying by Grant McCool

Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Belief Ideas.