Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) has dropped the hammer on Vladimir Putin as he sets the wheels in motion to officially declare the Russian president a “war criminal.”
Graham announced he is introducing a bill to label Putin for committing war crimes in Ukraine.
The South Carolina senator isn’t the only one using that language, however.
President Donald Trump also told Republican donors in a speech in New Orleans last night that Putin’s invasion of Ukraine is a “massive crime against humanity.”
“I spoke to the Ukrainian ambassador earlier Friday,” Graham said.
“Your voice is breaking through.
“After I listen to your program every night, Putin needs a longer table.
“Here’s what I would say, I’ve been a military prosecutor, defense attorney, judge for 30-something years.
“I’m going to introduce a resolution next week — I’ll give it to you on your show — declaring that Putin is a war criminal.
“It’s clear to me the world would be better off if the Russian people took Putin out tonight.
“The war on Ukraine would end, and Russia would have freedom they don’t enjoy today.
“A steel curtain has descended upon the Russian people.
“What does that tell me?
“That Putin is afraid of his own people. Martial law has been virtually declared by Putin.
“I think the Russian people are not buying what Putin is selling when it comes to Ukraine.
“And if the Ukrainian people continue to fight as brave as they are, I think eventually, the dam will break in Russia.
“But I want to say this crystal clear — without apology, without equivocation — the world would be better off if Putin were gone tonight.
“And the best way to end this war is not American boots on the ground, but for the Russian people to rise up, reclaim the honor of their country and take this guy out, Putin, by any means necessary.
“And if you don’t understand that, you don’t understand this war, and you don’t understand the world in which we live,” he said.
I challenge Secretary Blinken and the Biden Administration to declare the activities of Putin and his inner circle as war crimes and have the Administration fully support the investigation and prosecution of Putin as a war criminal.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) March 5, 2022
Trump said last night:
“Are all of these nations going to stand by and watch perhaps millions of people be slaughtered as the onslaught continues?
“At what point do countries say, ‘No, we can’t take this massive crime against humanity?’
“We can’t let it happen. We can’t let it continue to happen.”
Trump also joked that the U.S. should “put the Chinese flag on F-22 fighter jets and bomb the sh*t” out of Russia.
“And then we say, ‘China did it.’
“Then they start fighting with each other, and we sit back and watch,” Trump said.
Trump also took a swipe at Biden saying:
“We have to have Biden stop saying that — and this is for everyone to hear — that we will not attack Russia ever because they are a nuclear power, right?
“You know who is saying this?
“Okay, whether it’s fact or fiction, ‘We will not attack Russia. You see, they are a nuclear power.’
“Oh, thanks for telling us.”