Two friends of Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) appeared to be using CNN Monday night to reach out and show concern.
CNN's Chris Cuomo opened his show with Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), who said that he was concerned about the direction Graham appears to have turned. The recent news is that Graham has told the president's son, Donald Trump Jr., to break the law by defying a subpoena from Senate Republicans.
"This is not the Lindsey I know," Manchin said. "I can’t explain what’s going on right now and his thought process. He lost his dear, dear friend John McCain and our ally. That might have had some effect but I can’t speak to that. I just know that the facts of what we’re seeing unfold and what has happened has been because it was clear and evident."
Manchin said that he did talk to Graham about the comments he's made about Trump Jr., saying he never "doubted his sincerity" about his opinion on the matter.
"I spoke to him before I heard he said that" Trump Jr. should break the law, Manchin said.
The interview with Manchin followed with a panel discussion with Ana Navarro, who once worked for the late Sen. John McCain (R-AZ). Navarro said that she once considered Graham to be a friend but she too was deeply concerned about him.
"Chris, if I may, a point of personal privilege," Navarro began. "I was hearing your interview with Sen. Manchin about Lindsey Graham. Lindsey has been a friend of mine for so many years. I used to be able to pick up the phone and talk to Lindsey any time I wanted. He hasn’t picked up the phone in a long time. So, I’m going to use your show to talk to him."
She described herself as a proud supporter of Graham's who hosted fundraisers and traveled for him.
"I loved this man. He was a truth speaker," Navarro recalled. "He was a straight talker. He was John McCain’s best friend. When I see what has become of Lindsey Graham right now, it hurts my heart. Like Sen. Manchin, I don’t recognize him. He is a man that loves his country and is a patriot and served his country. I am proud and grateful for his service but I am hoping that Lindsey Graham realizes that he is not serving this country or Constitution well or the memory of John McCain well."
She told Graham to ask himself what McCain would do in this moment. She went on to say that Graham isn't in office to be Trump's accomplice.
"Donald Trump’s lawyer. Donald Trump’s defender and adviser, a legal adviser for Donald Trump Jr. He is there to represent the people of South Carolina. Lindsey, go back to being Lindsey. I feel like it’s an episode of the body snatchers," she said.
Watch both videos below:
Manchin:
Navarro:
