Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., speaks with reporters in the Senate Press Gallery on Capitol Hill, in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 15. | AP Photo Graham challenges Trump to prove claims of voter fraud

Lindsey Graham challenged Donald Trump on Tuesday to back up his unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud — and the South Carolina Republican floated the idea of a bipartisan resolution affirming the validity of the election results.

Graham, one of Donald Trump’s harshest Republican critics, bluntly urged the President-elect to stop making baseless allegations that millions of votes were cast illegally. Telling reporters that “no one has suggested to me there’s evidence of what he said,” Graham added: “And if there is not evidence, please stop saying that.”


“You are now the president-elect of the United States,” Graham reminded Trump. “If you really believe that millions of people voted illegally, you should have some proof. Because your voice is not just an ordinary voice.”

Graham said that he may seek a Democratic co-sponsor for a symbolic measure that declares “the 2016 elections were free and fair, and the results were the will of the American people — that the system worked.”

Few other GOP senators have joined Graham in openly criticizing Trump’s false voter fraud claims, although Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma on Monday called the charge “pretty far-fetched.” Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas) also shrugged off the voter fraud claim late Monday, saying in a brief interview that "I'm involved in other stuff that's more demanding of my time."

Sen. John Boozman (R-Ark.) declined to comment Tuesday and Sen. Dan Coats (R-Ind.) declined to comment Monday on the president-elect’s voter fraud claims. Pressed by reporters about another Trump tweet endorsing potential jail time or loss of citizenship for flag burning, Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) said only that “I wouldn’t go that far."

John McCain, Graham’s close friend and fellow Trump critic, appeared to speak for others in his party as he shrugged off reporters seeking his reaction to the president-elect’s latest incendiary statement.

“I’m not commenting on Donald Trump’s daily comments,” the Arizona Republican told reporters. “I'm not going to do it.”