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Graham Mocks Anti-Gitmo Protesters at Sessions Hearing

January 10, 2017

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.) on Tuesday mocked protesters demonstrating against the Guantanamo Bay military prison who interrupted Sen. Jeff Sessions' (R., Ala.) confirmation hearing to be the next attorney general.

The protesters, a woman and a large man, began yelling after Sessions indicated his support for keeping open the detention camp at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Cuba for suspected terrorists. As Sessions was finishing his answer for Graham on the matter, the two demonstrators stood up and shouted. They refused to leave the room when asked, and it took several Capitol Police officers to remove the man from the hearing room.

The questioning stopped while the protesters were being removed. After they were escorted out, Graham jokingly discussed the protesters' views.

"I think they're on the fence about Gitmo, but I'm not sure," Graham said.

Graham went on to say that he supports the fight against terrorism and Sessions bringing the legal fight against terrorists as well.

"Let me tell you, I support this administration's effort to make sure we prosecute terrorism as a military action, not a law enforcement action," Graham said. "They're not trying to steal our cars or rob your bank account."

"They're trying to destroy our way of life," Graham continued. "I hope you'll go after them without apology, apply the law, and the law is the law of war, not domestic criminal law."