Sen. Lindsey Graham Lindsey Olin GrahamSenate GOP aims to confirm Trump court pick by Oct. 29: report The Hill's Campaign Report: GOP set to ask SCOTUS to limit mail-in voting Senate GOP sees early Supreme Court vote as political booster shot MORE (R-S.C.) on Monday said he defended the late Sen. John McCain John Sidney McCainCindy McCain endorses Biden: He's only candidate 'who stands up for our values' Biden says Cindy McCain will endorse him Biden's six best bets in 2016 Trump states MORE to President Trump Donald John TrumpOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Pelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Trump mocks Biden appearance, mask use ahead of first debate MORE, who accused the Arizona Republican of turning over controversial opposition research for "evil purposes."

Graham, asked about his conversations over the weekend with Trump, said he told the president that McCain "deserves better" and "appropriately" handled the so-called Steele dossier compiled against then-candidate Trump.

ADVERTISEMENT

"Trump believes that it was the McCain people that spread this. He's right. There were some McCain people that took a piece of garbage and tried to go after Trump after the election. But I told the president it was not John McCain," Graham recounted to reporters.

Graham added that McCain showed him the dossier and that he recommended McCain "turn it over to somebody whose job it is to find these things out."

"John McCain acted appropriately," Graham added.

Trump renewed his attacks against McCain earlier this month, lashing out at him for his vote against a GOP ObamaCare repeal bill and his decision to turn the Steele dossier over to the FBI.

Trump, during an interview with Fox Business, said the senator gave the dossier to the FBI for "very evil purposes."

Graham countered that he urged McCain to hand the research document to the FBI.

"John McCain did not give it to anybody in the press," Graham said. "He turned it over to the FBI, and that's exactly what he should have done. That's what you should do."