South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham argued that former President Donald Trump’s daughter-in-law Lara was the “biggest winner” of his second impeachment trial.
"The biggest winner, I think, of this whole impeachment trial is Lara Trump," Graham told Fox News.
Graham cited retiring North Carolina Sen. Richard Burr’s vote in favor of convicting Trump.
"My dear friend Richard Burr, who I like and have been friends to a long time, just made Lara Trump almost the certain nominee for the Senate seat in North Carolina to replace him if she runs,” Graham argued. “And I certainly will be behind her because she represents the future of the Republican Party."
Lara, the wife of Eric Trump, has discussed jumping into the Senate race since last year.
The North Carolina GOP moved to censure Burr in response to the vote.
Fellow Republican interjects:
Former Rep. Mark Walker, the only Republican to formally announce his candidacy, took issue with Graham’s remark.
"In the words of I believe it was John Ashcroft, Lindsey is always confident but not always right," Walker told Fox News.
Walker criticized Burr and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, who excoriated Trump despite voting to acquit.
"Wrong vote, Sen. Burr,” he added on Twitter. “I am running to replace Richard Burr because North Carolina needs a true conservative champion as their next senator."
Can Trump win NC?
Though Walker is the lone Republican in the race right now, the GOP primary is expected to be hotly contested.
Along with Lara Trump, former Gov. Pat McCrory is also expected to contend for the seat.
"I don’t see how Saturday’s vote affect that at all," argued former RNC spokesman Doug Heye. "You’ve got to do some crazy kind of algebra and cheating your math to get that."
"We can't control what anyone else is doing," Walker told Fox. "This is something we're focused on because it's in our heart to do, service has been part of our life for nearly a quarter century and we're going to continue to do so."
