Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who himself called Trump crazy in 2016, now says the anonymous NYT op-ed exposing the president's recklessness and instability is a coordinated effort to shift focus away from the Russia investigation.
He offers no proof to substantiate his accusation.
CNN:
"I think what's happening here is a new line of attack," the South Carolina Republican said of the motives of the op-ed. "That's the best evidence yet that there's no collusion. This to me is a signal that there's nothing there with Russia in terms of the President."
Graham claimed that the op-ed was part of a secretive effort to shift the focus away from the Russia probe since, he said, there was no apparent evidence that the Trump campaign colluded with Russia. And he believed that it was part of a "new narrative" to claim the President is "crazy."
Graham himself called then-candidate Trump "crazy" and "a kook" when the two were campaign trail rivals in February 2016.
Graham offered no evidence to support his new theory. But his remarks signal the latest effort by Republicans to turn the page away from the damaging op-ed and focus on matters that unite their party.
The senator, who frequently golfs with Trump, indicted that he'd spoken a few times with him since the op-ed came out.
"He's pissed off," Graham said. "He feels betrayed, and I don't blame him." ...
However, Graham admitted that there are "actual concerns" in the White House about Trump.
"Absolutely," he told CNN. "I think he can be a handful, but I think this op-ed piece was done for a purpose, for a reason and you may not agree with me, but it's to start a new narrative. The new narrative is, 'Well, he didn't collude with the Russians but he's crazy.'"
Graham says NYT op-ed about opening 'new line of attack' against Trump (CNN)