Graham calls for Senate Judiciary hearing on McCabe firing

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Sunday said he believes the Senate Judiciary Committee should hold a hearing on the firing of former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe.

“I think we owe it to the average American to have a hearing in the Judiciary Committee where Attorney General [Jeff] Sessions comes forward with whatever documentation he has about the firing, and give Mr. McCabe the chance to defend himself,” Graham, a member of the panel, said on CNN’s “State of the Union.” 

“I believe when it comes to this issue we need as much transparency as possible to make sure it wasn’t politically motivated,” he added.

{mosads}Sessions on Friday fired McCabe  for not being forthcoming with investigators during an inspector general review. 

President Trump, who has personally attacked McCabe in the past, quickly praised that decision on Twitter, accusing McCabe of corrupt tactics and calling his firing a “great day for Democracy.”

McCabe issued a statement after he was fired in which he argued that his ouster was driven by the Trump administration in an effort to undermine special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation.

Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), also a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said Saturday the panel should hold an oversight hearing on the Trump administration’s attacks on the FBI and Justice Department.

Trump’s attacks on the FBI and Justice Department, and his celebration of McCabe’s firing, have prompted concern from some lawmakers that he may be readying to order Mueller’s firing.

Graham reiterated on Sunday that he believes such action would be “the beginning of the end” of Trump’s presidency.