Graham, who has been aligned closely with President Trump for most of the past four years, said the mob that stormed the Capitol last week should be held accountable, but that Republicans should not support impeachment.
“To my Republican colleagues who legitimize this process, you are doing great damage not only to the country, the future of the presidency, but also to the party. ... The individuals who participated in the storming of the Capitol should be met with the full force of the law. They should and will be held accountable," Graham said in the statement.
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In addition to releasing a public statement, Graham has been privately calling his colleagues for several days urging them to oppose convicting Trump as part of the Senate trial, a spokesperson confirmed to The Hill.