A federal appeals court ordered Sen. Lindsey Graham to appear before a grand jury examining whether then-President Donald Trump and others improperly influenced the 2020 Georgia race.
The judgment allows Fulton County DA Fani Willis to interrogate Graham. She wants to question the South Carolina Republican about post-election phone calls to Brad Raffensperger.
Graham asked Raffensperger whether he could reject absentee ballots, which Raffensperger saw as a proposal to throw away legitimately submitted votes. Graham called it "ridiculous."
Graham may appeal to the whole court. Graham's counsel referred comment Thursday to the senator's office, which did not immediately respond.
Graham disputed his subpoena, stating he was exempt as a U.S. senator. He denies wrongdoing.
The justices stated in a six-page opinion that Graham "has failed to establish that this strategy violates his Speech and Debate Clause rights."