Watch Lindsey Graham inadvertently make a case for Trump's impeachment back in 1998


Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) didn't always have a problem with impeachment. Especially if it involved a president who "failed to comply with subpoenas of Congress."
Back in 1998, Graham, then a congressmember, threw his usual vigor into a House floor speech about how former President Richard Nixon refused to hand over his secret White House recordings. And, as neoconservative commentator Bill Kristol was probably pointing out by tweeting a clip of it on Wednesday, the speech has some pretty distinct parallels to today.
Graham, now a staunch ally of President Trump, started his speech by citing an article of impeachment against Nixon that said the president "failed to comply with subpoenas of Congress." It was Nixon's "job to comply" with the things Congress "need[ed]," Graham said, but Nixon instead "took ... the impeachment process away from Congress" and "became the judge and jury."
Subscribe to 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.
"The day Richard Nixon failed to answer that subpoena is the day that he was subject to impeachment," Graham finished. Strangely enough, Trump himself failed to answer a subpoena from Congress on Wednesday as well, citing his executive privilege just like Nixon did. Watch Graham's concise breakdown below. Kathryn Krawczyk
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
Judge threatens Trump team with criminal contempt
Speed Read James Boasberg attempts to hold the White House accountable for disregarding court orders over El Salvador deportation flights
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Biden slams Trump's Social Security cuts
Speed Read In his first major public address since leaving office, Biden criticized the Trump administration's 'damage' and 'destruction'
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
El Salvador refuses to return US deportee
Speed Read President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador said he would not send back the unlawfully deported Kilmar Ábrego García
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Trump says electronics tariff break won't last
Speed Read The tariff exemptions on smartphones, laptops and other electronic devices are temporary, the administration says
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Man charged in arson attack on Pennsylvania's Shapiro
Speed Read Governor Josh Shapiro and his family were sleeping when someone set fire to his Harrisburg mansion
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
White House pushes for oversight of Columbia University
Speed Read The Trump administration is considering placing the school under a consent decree
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Supreme Court backs wrongly deported migrant
Speed Read The Trump administration must 'facilitate' the return of wrongfully deported migrant Kilmar Ábrego García from El Salvador, Supreme Court says
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Two judges bar war-powers deportations
Speed Read The Trump administration was blocked from using the Alien Enemies Act to deport more alleged Venezuelan gang members
By Peter Weber, The Week US