Graham would support ‘precedent’ to replace Feinstein on Judiciary Committee if she resigns
Jack Birle
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Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) says he will support the precedent to replace Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) on the Senate Judiciary Committee if she decides to resign from the Senate.
Graham and Senate Republicans blocked Democrats from installing a temporary replacement for Feinstein on the powerful committee this week, but Graham indicated on CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday that circumstances could be different if she resigns from Congress.
OVER 60 CALIFORNIA PROGRESSIVE GROUPS URGE FEINSTEIN TO RESIGN
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“I hope she comes back. But if she does resign, I would be in the camp of following the precedent of the Senate, replacing the person consistent with what we’ve done in the past, but I hope she comes back. I hope Dianne gets better. She’s a wonderful person,” Graham said.
The South Carolina Republican also praised Feinstein as “a very effective senator.”
Feinstein has said she intends to return to the Senate, as the 89-year-old has been out since February due to a bout of shingles.
The California Democrat has already said she will not seek another term for her Senate seat, which she was first elected to in 1992. The race for her seat in 2024 is set to be a fierce battle between Golden State Democrats.
If she were to resign, it would mean Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) would get to appoint a replacement until an election is held for the seat. Newsom appointed Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) to fill the vacancy left by then-Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) when she resigned to become vice president in 2021. Having to appoint Feinstein’s successor could be a political nightmare for Newsom amid the hotly contested primary for the seat.
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Graham also said on his appearance on CNN that the reason he is supporting former President Donald Trump over former Gov. Nikki Haley (R-SC) and Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) for president in 2024 is more about Trump than potential flaws of the two South Carolinians.
“It’s not anything about Nikki or Tim that I find fault in. It’s about the ability of President Trump to get things done. That should be done. I’d like to see him have another term. I’m not supporting him because I find fault and others and supporting him because I think he was a very effective president across the board economically and on national security,” Graham said.