Clarence Thomas grants Lindsey Graham's request to block subpoena for testimony in Georgia election probe


Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas approved a temporary block on a subpoena requiring Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) to testify before a Georgia grand jury investigating efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election, CNBC reports. Thomas approved the hold days after Graham's legal team petitioned the Supreme Court to delay his appearance before the grand jury.
Thomas' decision indicates Graham's luck may be changing after numerous attempts to quash the subpoena failed. In September, a federal judge denied Graham's request to block the court order. However, she did rule that investigators could not question him about "investigatory fact-finding on telephone calls to Georgia election officials." Last week a federal appeals court panel unanimously voted to uphold that decision, refusing to quell the grand jury's request.
Thomas acted alone in deciding to approve Graham's request because the lower court that issued the subpoena is in his jurisdiction, per CNN. The court has requested a response from Georgia investigators by Thursday.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis oversees the special grand jury investigation into the efforts of former president Donald Trump and his allies to alter the results of the 2020 election in Georgia. Officials want to ask Graham about phone calls he made to Georgia election officials after the ballots closed, CNN reports.
Graham is arguing that he is protected from testifying due to the Speech or Debate clause of the U.S. Constitution, which bars law enforcement from taking action against legislators for conduct connected to their assigned duties.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Theara Coleman has worked as a staff writer at The Week since September 2022. She frequently writes about technology, education, literature and general news. She was previously a contributing writer and assistant editor at Honeysuckle Magazine, where she covered racial politics and cannabis industry news.
-
Mexico’s forced disappearances
Under the Radar 130,000 people missing as 20-year war on drugs leaves ‘the country’s landscape ever more blood-soaked’
-
The Week contest: Racoon’s regrets
Puzzles and Quizzes
-
Housing costs: Is deregulation the answer?
Feature Washington, D.C.’s NoMa neighborhood is now leading the nation in new apartment construction
-
House posts lewd Epstein note attributed to Trump
Speed Read The estate of Jeffrey Epstein turned over the infamous 2003 birthday note from President Donald Trump
-
Supreme Court allows 'roving' race-tied ICE raids
Speed Read The court paused a federal judge's order barring agents from detaining suspected undocumented immigrants in LA based on race
-
South Korea to fetch workers detained in Georgia raid
Speed Read More than 300 South Korean workers detained in an immigration raid at a Hyundai plant will be released
-
DC sues Trump to end Guard 'occupation'
Speed Read D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb argues that the unsolicited military presence violates the law
-
RFK Jr. faces bipartisan heat in Senate hearing
Speed Read The health secretary defended his leadership amid CDC turmoil and deflected questions about the restricted availability of vaccines
-
White House defends boat strike as legal doubts mount
Speed Read Experts say there was no legal justification for killing 11 alleged drug-traffickers
-
Epstein accusers urge full file release, hint at own list
speed read A rally was organized by Reps. Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie, who are hoping to force a vote on their Epstein Files Transparency Act
-
Court hands Harvard a win in Trump funding battle
Speed Read The Trump administration was ordered to restore Harvard's $2 billion in research grants