Sen. Graham Calls For ‘Investigation' Into Obama — Playing Into Trump's Epstein Distraction
While appearing Sunday on NBC's 'Meet the Press' host Kristen Welker asked Graham directly if he thinks Obama committed treason.
'I'm not alleging he committed treason, but I am saying it bothers me, it's disturbing that this is new information,' Graham replied.'... I'm not calling for prosecution against President Obama for treason. But I am calling for an investigation.'
Graham's comments came after Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard on Wednesday declassified documents that she said could implicate members of the Obama administration for 'treasonous' behavior during the 2016 election.
Last week, President Donald Trump accused his predecessor of committing treason and rigging the 2016 election.
Trump abruptly pivoted to calling out Obama after reporters in the Oval Office asked him about Jeffrey Epstein. Obama's office issued a rare rebuke of Trump's 'bizarre' claims, calling the world leader's attack 'a weak attempt at distraction.'
The Trump administration has faced scrutiny over the controversy surrounding disgraced financier and sex offender Epstein.
The criticism ramped up after the Department of Justice and FBI released a two-page memo earlier this month. The memo said their Epstein investigation determined that there was no evidence Epstein was murdered in prison or had a 'client list' of powerful people he could potentially blackmail.
Since the memo's release, both Republicans and Democrats have called on the Trump administration to release more information.
'Well, I think somebody needs to look at what we found,' Graham continued. 'The intel committee looked at the matter. And they said in 2017, the intelligence analysis of 2017 showing that Russia was trying to interfere in our election was real. They didn't achieve their goal. But what she found, Ms. Gabbard, is that in 2016, the intelligence community told President Obama, 'There's no evidence that Russia was involved in trying to change the outcome of the election.'
'And he supposedly told a group of people, 'Keep looking.' And the analysis changed. So what we're looking at is, what role did Obama play in 2016 to change the narrative that resulted in 2017?'
Graham went on to say that the 'best way to handle this' is to create a special counsel.
'If there is evidence of a crime being committed or suspected evidence of a crime being committed, create a special counsel to look at it. I think that's the best way to go,' he added.
Watch Graham's appearance on 'Meet the Press' here.
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