Sen. Graham says Biden should oppose 'post-presidential impeachment' of Trump

Sen. Lindsey Graham said on Twitter Wednesday that President-elect Joe Biden should oppose the pursuit of an impeachment conviction against President Trump after he has departed from office.

The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday voted 232-197 in favor of impeaching the president, including 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach. The vote marked the second time during Trump's four-year term that the House has voted to impeach him. After the first House impeachment vote, the Senate did not convict on either article.

"It is now time for President-elect Biden to rise to the occasion and instruct his party to call off post-presidential impeachment proceedings," said Graham, the South Carolina Republican who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee.

"The House impeached President Trump without a hearing or witness, and the Senate Democrats would be willing to continue this division and legitimize the House procedures. Senator McConnell’s decision to withhold consent to start the trial before inauguration is the right call," Graham said. "Its now time for President-elect Biden to reject post presidential impeachment because of the destructive force it would have on the presidency and nation. Every president is subject to the laws of the land. However, impeachment is political and will further divide the nation."