Washington (CNN) House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler on Thursday played a 1999 video of Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham arguing that "high crimes" don't "even need to be a crime," a statement that runs counter to a central Republican talking point in President Donald Trump's impeachment trial.

"What's a high crime? How about an important person hurt somebody of low means. That's not very scholarly, but I think it's the truth," Graham says in the video clip from President Bill Clinton's impeachment trial played on Thursday. "I think that's what they meant by 'high crimes.' Doesn't even have to be a crime. It's just when you start using your office and you're acting in a way that hurts people, you have committed a high crime."

Nadler, an impeachment manager, played the video as part of the Democrat's strategy to highlight the constitutional case for removing Trump from office for abuse of power as they seek to convince skeptical -- and often weary -- Republican senators that the trial needs witnesses and documents. Much of Trump's defense has relied on the idea that no crime was committed in his conduct regarding Ukraine -- an argument Nadler sought to undercut by showing the 1999 video.

"There are many reasons why high crimes and misdemeanors are not and cannot be limited to violations of the criminal code. We address them at length in the briefs we have filed," Nadler said after the video played.

Graham, a fierce Trump ally, was not on the Senate floor when the video played, but Republican Sen. Ben Sasse could be seen whispering something to him on his way back in, and Graham smiled.

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