Graham Invites Giuliani to Testify as He Opens New Ukraine Probe

Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham reversed course, saying he’ll open a Ukraine inquiry and offering President Donald Trump’s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani an opportunity to testify.

The South Carolina Republican, one of Trump’s closest allies in the Senate, has previously said he would not open such an investigation, pushing instead for someone outside of politics at the Department of Justice to look at matters involving Ukraine, including the actions of former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden.

But Graham tweeted Tuesday, “Given the House of Representatives’ behavior, it is time for the Senate to inquire about corruption and other improprieties involving Ukraine,” and cited actions leading to the firing of Ukraine’s top prosecutor.

“Therefore I will offer to Mr. Giuliani the opportunity to come before the Senate Judiciary Committee to inform the committee of his concerns,” Graham said on Twitter.

Democrats leading the House impeachment inquiry are focusing on whether Trump threatened to withhold aid to Ukraine unless the government investigated Biden, who is a potential challenger to Trump in the 2020 election.

Graham’s decision came just hours after the State Department blocked U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland from appearing before the House panels leading the investigation.