Clarence Thomas Temporarily Blocks Subpoena for Lindsey Graham to Testify in Georgia’s Election Interference Probe
Summary from the AllSides News Team
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas temporarily blocked a Georgia grand jury’s subpoena of Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) to testify in the state’s investigation of alleged illegal interference in the 2020 election by former President Donald Trump’s allies.
The Timeline: Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis initially subpoenaed Graham on July 5, and lower courts rejected the senator’s requests to block the subpoena. On Friday, Graham asked the Supreme Court to intervene, and Thomas issued an “administrative stay” on Monday pending a further order from the court.
For Context: Georgia is investigating whether phone calls made by Graham to Georgian election officials constituted illegal election interference. Thomas is also connected to the issue through his wife, Ginni Thomas, who texted former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows to suggest strategies for overturning Trump’s election defeat. Ginni Thomas reaffirmed her “significant concerns about fraud and irregularities in the 2020 election” when she testified to the House January 6 committee in September.
How the Media Covered It: Coverage was widespread across the spectrum but was more common in D.C.-focused outlets like The Hill (Center bias) and Washington Examiner (Lean Right bias). Fox News (Right bias) did not appear to cover this story by Monday evening. Some coverage from the left and center highlighted criticism on Thomas, including quotes like “Disgrace” and “Affront to Justice.”
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Left
Justice Thomas temporarily blocks Graham subpoena from Georgia grand jurySupreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas on Monday temporarily halted a subpoena issued by an Atlanta-area grand jury seeking Sen. Lindsey Graham’s testimony in its probe of efforts to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia.
Thomas issued an order that will stay the Fulton County court’s subpoena “pending further order of the undersigned or of the Court.” The justice, who supervises the 11th Circuit, handed down the stay on his own — without indicating he’d referred the matter to the full court — which typically signals an order is administrative or interim.
From the Right
Clarence Thomas sides with Lindsey Graham, temporarily halts testimony in Georgia inquirySupreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas unilaterally ruled in favor of Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), temporarily halting him from testifying in the Fulton County, Georgia, 2020 election investigation.
The South Carolina senator asked the Supreme Court on Friday to block a subpoena from the Atlanta-area special grand jury that is investigating efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election in Georgia.
"Upon consideration of the application of counsel for the applicant, it is ordered that the August 15, 2022 order of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia ... is hereby stayed pending further order...
From the Center
Graham asks justices to block subpoena in election-interference probeUpdate (Oct. 24, 12:45 p.m.): This article has been updated to reflect developments over the weekend and on Monday.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, asked the Supreme Court on Friday to block a Georgia grand jury from questioning him about phone calls after the 2020 election to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and his staff. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis wants to ask Graham about the calls, in which he allegedly discussed the state’s absentee-ballot process and allegations of voter fraud, as part of her...
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