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| credit: C. Bennett, Chattanooga Times Free Press |
If you had any doubts about the political impartiality of the United States Supreme Court, you could put them to rest this week. MAGA-aligned Justice Clarence Thomas placed a stay on the appeals court order requiring Senator Lindsey Graham to testify to the Fulton County grand jury investigating Trumpillini's attempt to influence the presidential election outcome in Georgia. Thomas acted alone in granting the stay because he has jurisdiction over the 11th Circuit for emergency hearing purposes. Nevertheless, his action is consistent with his and his wife's sympathy for Trump's unprecedented plot to usurp power.
The 11th Circuit ruled that not all of Graham's communications with Georgia election officials was protected under the Constitution "speech and debate" clause. Efforts to cajole or extort Georgia officials into 'finding' more votes for Trump are not within the privilege wrote a three-judge panel, which heard the case. Moreover, if a dispute arises over whether a grand jury question infringes on the privilege, Senator Graham could raise objections then. The Senator wants the entire subpoena quashed. Graham appealed the ruling to the Supreme Court on Friday of last week. The litigation over his subpoena has played out since the summer. More delay, and the midterms are already here.