Why Sen. Lindsey Graham Believes the Supreme Court Confirmation Process Is “Broken”

During the contentious confirmation hearing of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) was one of Kavanaugh’s most vocal defenders on the Senate Judiciary Committee — decrying Democrats for making the hearing what he called “the most unethical sham since I've been in politics."

In an extensive interview conducted by FRONTLINE’ on February 6, 2019 during the making of “Supreme Revenge,” Graham — now the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee -- speaks out about why he decided to rail against Democrats in an angry defense of Kavanaugh: “And I thought this was a complete joke. I thought it was a drive-by shooting. I thought they were destroying this guy’s life.”

Funding for FRONTLINE is provided through the support of PBS viewers and by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Major funding for FRONTLINE is provided by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the Ford Foundation. Additional funding is provided by the Abrams Foundation, the Park Foundation, The John and Helen Glessner Family Trust, and the FRONTLINE Journalism Fund with major support from Jon and Jo Ann Hagler on behalf of the Jon L. Hagler Foundation.

[TheMauf]

Boy these guys are so different on PBS than on Fox or MSNBC.

[racingBandit]

This is how journalism should be, ask the questions, let the interviewee answer and most important let the people watching form their own opinions on the response! Thank you Frontline

[SuperVampirelife]

Frontline does the best interviews ever. Neutral and no bias whatsoever.🥇👌🏽🙏🏿

[segasys]

Boy do y'all at Frontline like substantive long form interviews and I hope you never stop.

[rg]

25:03 he called it, and here comes justice barrett

[peregrino]

And love Frontline because onto now still neutral as journalists

[waltbryant]

It’s all about avoiding a primary? I know how we can fix the system—term limits.

[ernestdunphy]

Good interview especially at the end but it also reminds me about a comment regarding lawyers....do not ask lawyers for advice because they can only find problems, not solutions

[johnwellington]

He's a major part of hyper partisanship, Senators like Him Moscow Mitch, Diane Feinstein, Schumer all have got to go.

[etxblue]

He's right that the system is broken.

[abrahamjean]

The argument that the democrats would do the same thing if in their place is the most stupid piece of trash these peoples have got to say. There are no ifs, or maybes, or howevers in the course of history- you were wrong to stall Merrick’s nomination and you were equally wrong to rush in Coney Barrett’s- which could have easily less controversial if you guys hadn’t been a bunch of drama queens and just do your duty and do right in 2016.

[carltruth]

He keeps saying he wouldn't have done this to other nominations. Of course not because accusations where not brought like this against them. I'm confused that he doesn't realize he is a partisan blinded as the ones he's accusing!

[ryleeroseborough]

6:02 Sen. Graham is just wrong on this point. He forgot Sen Tester of Montana voted no on Kavanaugh and was relected in 2018 by 3.5%. Dem Senators Donelly (Indiana), McCaskill (Missouri), and Heitcamp (North Dakota) all voted no and lost.

[toridles]

25:03 - He doesn’t understand why they left so many vacancies? Are you serious? They didn’t leave vacancies. McConnell blocked any of Obama’s nominees hoping Trump (or other GOP) might get in. It became a lesson in futility for poor Obama.

[zechariahlim]

this interview in a nushell
Reporter: Any Question
Sen. Graham: Sotamayor and Kagan

[samirbatta]

I love this interview.. I'm the biggest liberal 'snowflake' but what he said about the Kavanaugh vote and the increasing partisanship and qualification of the nominee over his/her beliefs makes sense to me . He followed the same Scalia Ginsburg way for Sotomayor and Keagen even if the judge had the opposite view.. so it only makes sense that he expects the same .
I COMPLETELY DETEST his hypocrisy with Amy Coney Barret... She's definately qualified but this hypocrisy was too much to take in along with that rushed vote

[alanbourbeau]

Senator Lindsey Graham. Probably one of America’s controversial Republican senators. You don’t know whether he’s with President Trump or not. So it leaves us Republican Americans like myself baffled and confused. But I do know this. I hope that both Republicans and Democrats can be more civilized and bipartisan.

[rizzpas]

Thank you Senator Graham and this network for gracing us with this interview. It is indeed an honor to see (Senator) you in action for calling BS as it is and still trying to strike an unbiased position.

[astroredd]

Poor Graham always being the politician riding the fence

[hebber]

There needs to be a rule about appointments in the final year of a presidency. I liked the Garland thing but that's from a bias perspective. There shouldn't be the arguing if they had clear rules.