Graham: Senate colleagues trying to 'destroy' conservative Supreme Court justices with ethics reform

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Sunday lamented his Senate colleagues' push for more oversight of the Supreme Court, arguing they are attempting to "micromanage" the nation's high court.

"The worst thing that happened is for the United States Senate and the House to determine what cases the Supreme Court hears," Graham said on "Fox News Sunday."

Graham, the top-ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, and other GOP senators blocked a bill earlier this month that would require the Supreme Court to adopt a code of conduct and create a mechanism to enforce it amid several high-profile controversies.

"They're trying to micromanage the [Supreme Court Chief Justice John] 'Roberts court.' They're trying to destroy [Supreme Court Justices Samuel] Alito and [Clarence] Thomas because they don't like the fact of conservative judges," Graham said.

The Supreme Court has been under scrutiny over the past year following a series of reports detailing various undisclosed luxury trips, gifts, and questionable extrajudicial activities involving multiple justices. The reports spiked interest in congressional oversight of the justices’ behavior and the gifts they accept.

Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats have repeatedly pushed for legislation to increase oversight of the Supreme Court. This pressure increased last month after reports surfaced about a pair of flags flown over Alito’s homes, including an upside-down American flag over his Alexandria, Va., residence in the days surrounding the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot and President Biden’s inauguration.

Graham argued that former President Trump "changed the court" during his administration, provoking the ire of Democrats.

"They're squealing like stuck pigs because the Supreme Court is no longer a political body. It is actually looking at the Constitution and making constitutionally sound decisions versus political decisions. That's the problem liberals have with the court," he said.

"If Democrats can't convince you there's something that wrong with the court, they're going to lose because most Americans believe they're not safer," Graham added.