South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham faced backlash after calling President Donald Trump’s pardon of the January 6th defendants a “mistake” during a NBC interview. Graham explained that while Trump had the legal authority to issue the pardons, he feared it would encourage more violence, especially since some defendants had violently attacked police officers. He also referenced Vice President Mike Pence’s opinion that those who committed violence on that day should not be pardoned.

Conservative critics quickly responded on social media, calling Graham a “RINO” (Republican in Name Only) and questioning his political loyalty. Some users even demanded his removal from office, accusing him of ignoring potential government misconduct related to the January 6th events.

In related news, GOP Rep. Barry Loudermilk of Georgia revealed that House Speaker Mike Johnson promised to formalize his investigation into the January 6 attack into a new committee. The committee will aim to investigate broader security failures and counter the narrative that Trump alone was responsible for the Capitol riot. Loudermilk’s investigation, which suggested FBI charges against former GOP Rep. Liz Cheney, continues a broader Republican effort to challenge the conclusions of the previous January 6th select committee and protect Trump from accountability. Republicans are also pushing forward investigations into other politically sensitive issues, such as Hunter Biden and the handling of classified documents.

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