Rumors are swirling (again). This time they are surrounding the all-powerful Senate Judiciary Committee, which considers the president's judicial nominations, including Supreme Court nominations. According to CNN's Senior Congressional Correspondent Manu Raju, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) is eyeing a potential Chairmanship if current Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) decides to move to lead the Senate Finance Committee.
"He's expressed concerns about the way the Russia investigation has been conducted, the way the Clinton email investigation was being conducted," Raju said. "So we'll see if he brings a counterbalance to the House Judiciary Committee, which next year is going to be very aggressive in investigating the President."
Should Graham get the position, he would lead the Senate on any potential Supreme Court nominations. And they might not be on part with the Trump administration.
Raju said he had a conversation with Graham about potential Supreme Court vacancies in 2020. Apparently Graham would be "reluctant to move forward with a nominee, to hold to the precedent" that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell established in 2016 when he refused to consider the nomination of Merrick Garland.
"We'll see if he ultimately stands by that, if it actually happens," Raju said.
Depending on whether or not Graham becomes Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee can impact how many Supreme Court nominations the Trump administration can successfully confirm.
Maybe we really are seeing Graham 2.0. But only time will tell.