Democrats Criticize Lindsey Graham for Allegedly Pressuring Georgia Secretary of State to Discard Legal Ballots

Democrats have roundly criticized Republican South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham after Republican Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger accused Graham and other Republicans of pressuring him to throw out legal absentee ballots in an attempt to help President Donald Trump win the state's presidential election over President-elect Joe Biden.

Although Graham called Raffensperger's claim "ridiculous" and said he merely asked the secretary about the signature verification process for mail-in ballots, Democrats still blasted Lindsey over Raffensperger's accusation.

Democratic Michigan Representative Rashida Tlaib wrote, "So basically asking him to commit voter fraud. I see."

Democratic Georgia Senatorial candidate Raphael Warnock wrote, "Every legally cast ballot must be counted. We should all agree on that and stand up to defend our democracy. @KLoeffler join me in condemning these threats to a fair election and defending Georgians' right to vote."

He tagged his Republican political opponent rival, Kelly Loeffler, in his tweet. She has yet to issue a comment on the accusation against Graham.

Walter Shaub, former director of the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, wrote, "If Bill Barr were not the Attorney General, the report that Graham pressured the Georgia Secretary of State to discard legally cast votes would prompt an intensive investigation. Until we have a new Attorney General, the job of investigating falls to the Senate ethics committee."

Former Democratic Virginia House candidate Qasim Rashid wrote, "I don't know about you but this sounds like election fraud to me. This is the GOP today".

Noah Bookbinder, executive director of the non-partisan ethics watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, wrote, "For the chairman of the Senate committee with oversight of our legal system to have reportedly suggested that an election official toss out large numbers of legal ballots is appalling. Senator Graham should step down from his chairmanship immediately."

Evan McMullin, executive director of the government reform group Stand Up Republic, wrote, "Thank you, ⁦@GaSecofState⁩ Raffensperger, for protecting the integrity of Georgia's election even as members of your own party, including Lindsey Graham, pressure you to find a way to toss legal votes. If only there were more like you in the GOP."

The Democratic Coalition Against Trump, a political action committee, wrote, "Can you believe that Lindsey Graham thinks the South Carolina Senate seat has some bizarre powers to dictate to Georgia's Secretary of State about who gets to vote in the election Joe Biden just won??? He did."

Newsweek contacted Graham's office for comment.