WASHINGTON − On Sunday, Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, expressed his belief that President Donald Trump’s decision to pardon individuals who engaged in violence against law enforcement during the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot was a “mistake.”

After being sworn in, Trump granted nearly 1,600 pardons to defendants involved in the Capitol incident on a Monday. This broad pardon drew heavy criticism from police officers who confronted the rioters, their families, and various lawmakers, including some from Trump’s own party.

Graham noted that while Trump has the authority to issue pardons, he is concerned that this action might encourage “more violence” across the nation.

“Pardoning individuals who entered the Capitol and violently assaulted police officers is, in my opinion, a mistake because it sends the message that such actions are acceptable,” Graham shared during an appearance on “Meet the Press” with host Kristen Welker.

This is not the first occasion on which Graham has diverged from Trump publicly, even though he remains a prominent supporter of the former president.

In his critique on Sunday, the South Carolina senator didn’t just focus on Republicans but also took aim at former President Joe Biden for pardoning several family members, including his brother James, in the last moments of his administration. Biden cited concerns about politically driven investigations targeting his relatives.

“You know, Biden pardoned half his family while exiting. I believe most Americans see this as a misuse of pardon power. But regarding the pardoning of violent offenders who assaulted police, that’s a mistake,” Graham stated.

Graham Questions Trump’s Plan for Mass Deportations and Other Policies

On Sunday, Graham also raised doubts about Trump’s proposal to deport an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the U.S.

“I’m uncertain about the practicality of deporting 11 million individuals,” Graham remarked, asserting that he doubts Congress has allocated sufficient resources to support such a large-scale operation. Mass deportations were a key focus of Trump’s reelection campaign.

“While we discuss this matter, we haven’t provided the Trump administration with the necessary resources,” he pointed out. Tom Homan, who served as Trump’s “border czar,” stated in an ABC News interview that the feasibility of a significant deportation initiative would depend on Congressional support.

Trump had previously brushed aside concerns regarding the cost of mass deportation efforts in a November interview with NBC News.

According to the American Immigration Council, a mass deportation effort involving 1 million people annually could amount to an $88 billion yearly expense. It would demand an extraordinary increase in law enforcement personnel, detention facilities, immigration courtrooms, and flight arrangements.

Welker also questioned Graham about Trump’s choice to remove more than a dozen inspectors general from various federal agencies, noting that federal law mandates a 30-day notice to Congress for such actions.

Inspectors general serve as independent oversight within agencies, responsible for investigating and revealing cases of waste, fraud, and abuse.

When asked if Trump had broken the law, Graham acknowledged that “technically,” he might have, but he emphasized the president’s extensive powers.

“Nonetheless, he has the authority to make those changes. So, I’m not overly concerned about it. I just hope he prepares well for his new term. I believe he’s off to a good start,” Graham added.

Contributing: Reuters, Bart Jansen and Riley Beggin, YSL News