Lindsey Graham

Page semi-protected
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Lindsey Graham
Official portrait, 2013
United States Senator
from South Carolina
Assumed office
January 3, 2003
Serving with Tim Scott
Preceded byStrom Thurmond
Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee
Assumed office
January 3, 2023
Preceded byChuck Grassley
Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee
In office
February 3, 2021 – January 3, 2023
Preceded byBernie Sanders
Succeeded byChuck Grassley
Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee
In office
January 3, 2019 – February 3, 2021
Preceded byChuck Grassley
Succeeded byDick Durbin
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from South Carolina's 3rd district
In office
January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2003
Preceded byButler Derrick
Succeeded byGresham Barrett
Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives
from the 2nd district
In office
January 12, 1993 – January 3, 1995
Preceded byLowell Ross
Succeeded byBill Sandifer III
Personal details
Born
Lindsey Olin Graham

(1955-07-09) July 9, 1955 (age 68)
Central, South Carolina, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
EducationUniversity of South Carolina (BA, JD)
Signature
WebsiteSenate website
Campaign website
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnited States Air Force
Years of service1982–1988 (active)
1989–1995 (South Carolina Air National Guard)
1995–2015 (reserve)
Rank Colonel
UnitU.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General's Corps

Lindsey Olin Graham (/ɡræm/; born July 9, 1955) is an American lawyer and politician serving as the senior United States senator from South Carolina, a seat he has held since 2003. A member of the Republican Party, Graham chaired the Senate Committee on the Judiciary from 2019 to 2021.

A native of Central, South Carolina, Graham received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1981. Most of his active duty during his military service happened from 1982 to 1988, when he served with the Judge Advocate General's Corps in the United States Air Force, as a defense attorney and then as the Air Force's chief prosecutor in Europe, based in West Germany. Later his entire service in the U.S. Air Force Reserve ran concurrently with his congressional career. He was awarded a Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service in 2014 and held the rank of colonel.

Graham worked as a lawyer in private practice before serving one term in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1993 to 1995. He served four terms in the United States House of Representatives for South Carolina's 3rd congressional district from 1995 to 2003. In 2002, Graham won the U.S. Senate seat vacated by retiring Republican incumbent Strom Thurmond. He was reelected to a fourth term in 2020. In the Senate Graham advocates for strong national defense[1] and aggressive interventionist foreign policy.[2] Initially, he was known for his willingness to be bipartisan and work with Democrats on issues like campaign finance reform, a ban on waterboarding, cap and trade, immigration reform, and judicial nominees.[3][4][5][6][7][8] He has criticized the Tea Party movement, arguing for a more inclusive Republican Party.[7][9][10][11][12][13]

Graham sought the Republican nomination for president between June and December 2015, dropping out before the 2016 Republican primaries began.[14][2] He was an outspoken critic of Donald Trump's 2016 candidacy and repeatedly said he did not support Trump;[15] in particular, he took issue with Trump's comments on Graham's close friend, Senator John McCain.[16] After a March 2017 meeting with Trump, Graham became a staunch ally of his, often issuing public statements in his defense. His reversal caught both parties by surprise and sparked media speculation.[16][17] He became chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee in January 2019,[18] and led the U.S. Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Amy Coney Barrett, who was confirmed in October 2020.

Early life

Lindsey Olin Graham was born in Central, South Carolina, where his parents, Millie (Walters) and Florence James "F.J." Graham, ran a restaurant/bar/pool hall/liquor store, the Sanitary Cafe.[19][20] His family is of Scots-Irish descent.[21][22] After graduating from D. W. Daniel High School, Graham became the first member of his family to attend college, and joined the Reserve Officers' Training Corps. When he was 21, his mother died of Hodgkin's lymphoma, aged 52, and his father died 15 months later of a heart attack, aged 69.[21] Because his then-13-year-old sister was left orphaned, the service allowed Graham to attend the University of South Carolina in Columbia so he could remain near home as his sister's legal guardian.[12] During his studies, he became a member of the Pi Kappa Phi social fraternity.[23]

He graduated from the University of South Carolina with a B.A. in psychology in 1977, and from the University of South Carolina School of Law with a J.D. in 1981.[24]

Military service

Graham being robed as a judge for the Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals, November 2003

Upon graduating from the University of South Carolina School of Law, Graham was commissioned as an officer in the Judge Advocate General's Corps (JAG Corps) in the United States Air Force in 1982 and began active duty that year. His duty began with a stint as an Air Force defense attorney, after which he was transferred to Rhein-Main Air Base in Frankfurt, Germany, where from 1984 to 1988 he was the Air Force's chief prosecutor in Europe. In 1984, as he was defending an Air Force pilot accused of using marijuana, he was featured in an episode of 60 Minutes that exposed the Air Force's defective drug-testing procedures.[21][25] After his service in Europe, he returned to South Carolina, leaving active duty in 1989[26] and entering private practice as a lawyer.[21] He served as assistant county attorney for Oconee County from 1988 to 1992 and city attorney for Central from 1990 to 1994.[27]

Lt. Gen. Jack L. Rives pins the Meritorious Service Medal on Colonel Lindsey Graham, April 2009

After leaving the Air Force, Graham joined the South Carolina Air National Guard in 1989, where he served until 1995, then joining the U.S. Air Force Reserve.[26]

During the 1990–1991 Gulf War, Graham was recalled to active duty, serving as a judge advocate at McEntire Air National Guard Station in Eastover, South Carolina, where he helped brief departing pilots on the laws of war.[28] In 1998, the Capitol Hill daily newspaper The Hill contended that Graham was describing himself on his website as an Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm veteran. Graham responded: "I have not told anybody I'm a combatant. I'm not a war hero, and never said I was. ... If I have lied about my military record, I'm not fit to serve in Congress", further noting that he "never deployed".[29][30]

In 1998, Graham was promoted to lieutenant colonel. In 2004, he received his promotion to colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve at a White House ceremony officiated by President George W. Bush.[31] That year, a lower court determined that Graham's service as a military judge while a sitting member of the Senate was acceptable. In 2006, the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces set aside the lower court's ruling after concluding it was improper for Graham to serve as a military judge.[32]

In 2007, Graham served in Iraq as a reservist on active duty for a short period in April and for two weeks in August, where he worked on detainee and rule-of-law issues.[33] He also served in Afghanistan during the August 2009 Senate recess.[34] He was then assigned as a senior instructor at the Judge Advocate General's School, though he never went.[31]

In 2014, Graham received a Bronze Star medal for meritorious service as a senior legal adviser to the Air Force in Iraq and Afghanistan from August 2009 to July 2014, overseeing the detention of military prisoners.[1][31] In 2015, he retired at his last rank of Colonel from the Air Force with over 33 total years of service, after reaching the statutory retirement age of 60 for his rank.[35] Graham earned points toward a military pension but was unpaid as an Air Force officer while a congressman and senator as he was ineligible for a military paycheck during his time in federal government service.[31]

South Carolina House of Representatives

In 1992, Graham was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives from the 2nd district, in Oconee County. He defeated Democratic incumbent Lowell W. Ross by 60% to 40% and served one term, from 1993 to 1995.[36]

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

In 1994, 20-year incumbent Democratic U.S. Congressman Butler Derrick of South Carolina's northwestern-based 3rd congressional district decided to retire. Graham ran to succeed him and, with Republican U.S. Senator Strom Thurmond campaigning on his behalf, won the Republican primary with 52% of the vote, defeating Bob Cantrell (33%) and Ed Allgood (15%).[37] In the general election, Graham defeated Democratic State Senator James Bryan Jr., 60% to 40%.[37] As a part of that year's Republican Revolution, Graham became the first Republican to represent the district since 1877.[11]

In 1996, he was challenged by Debbie Dorn, the niece of Butler Derrick and daughter of Derrick's predecessor, 13-term Democratic Congressman William Jennings Bryan Dorn. Graham was reelected, defeating Dorn 60% to 40%.[37] In 1998, he was reelected to a third term unopposed.[37] In 2000, he was reelected to a fourth term, defeating Democratic nominee George Brightharp, 68% to 30%.[37]

Tenure

In 1997, Graham took part in a leadership challenge against House Speaker Newt Gingrich.[21]

Graham speaking during Clinton's impeachment on December 18, 1998, and also discussing the grounds for impeachment of Richard Nixon and other presidents

In November 1997, Graham was one of 18 House Republicans to co-sponsor a resolution by Bob Barr that sought to launch an impeachment inquiry into President Bill Clinton.[38][39] The resolution did not specify any charges or allegations.[39] This was an early effort to impeach Clinton, predating the eruption of the Clinton–Lewinsky scandal. The eruption of that scandal ultimately led to a more serious effort to impeach Clinton in 1998.[40] On October 8, 1998, Graham voted in favor of legislation to open an impeachment inquiry.[12][41] He was a member of the Judiciary Committee, which conducted the inquiry.[42] In both the Judiciary Committee vote on forwarding proposed articles of impeachment, and the full House vote on the proposed articles of impeachment, Graham voted for three of the four proposed articles of impeachment. He voted against the second count of perjury in the Paula Jones case.[43][44][45][46] This made him the only Republican on the Judiciary Committee to vote against any of the proposed articles of impeachment.[12] During the inquiry, Graham asked, "Is this Watergate or Peyton Place?"[12][21] The House passed two of the impeachment articles.[43][44][45][46] Graham served as an House impeachment manager in the impeachment trial.[47]

Committee assignments

During his service in the House, Graham served on the following committees:

U.S. Senate

Elections

2002

In 2002, longtime U.S. Senator Strom Thurmond decided to retire. Graham ran to succeed him and won the Republican primary unopposed. In the general election, he defeated Democratic nominee Alex Sanders, the former President of the College of Charleston and former Chief Judge of the South Carolina Court of Appeals, 600,010 votes (54%) to 487,359 (44%).[48] Graham thus became South Carolina's first new U.S. senator since Fritz Hollings in 1966.[49]

2008

When Graham ran for a second term in 2008, he was challenged in the Republican primary by National Executive Committeeman of the South Carolina Republican Party, Buddy Witherspoon. Graham defeated him by 186,398 votes (66.82%) to 92,547 (33.18%), winning all but one of South Carolina's 46 counties.[50] He then defeated the Democratic nominee, pilot and engineer Bob Conley, in the general election, 1,076,534 votes (57.53%) to 790,621 (42.25%), having outspent Conley by $6.6 million to $15,000.[51]

2014

Of all the Republican senators up for reelection in 2014, Graham was considered one of the most vulnerable to a primary challenge, largely due to his low approval ratings and reputation for working with and compromising with Democrats.[52][53] He expected a primary challenge from conservative activists, including the Tea Party movement,[54] and Chris Chocola, President of the Club for Growth, indicated that his organization would support a primary challenge if an acceptable standard-bearer emerged.[55]

But a serious challenger to Graham failed to emerge and he was widely viewed as likely to win,[6][13][52] which has been ascribed to his "deft maneuvering" and "aggressive" response to the challenge. He befriended potential opponents from the state's congressional delegation and helped them with fundraising and securing their preferred committee assignments; he assembled a "daunting multi-million-dollar political operation" dubbed the "Graham machine" that built six regional offices across the state and enlisted the support of thousands of paid staffers and volunteers, including over 5,000 precinct captains; he assembled a "staggering" campaign war chest and "blanketed" the state with positive ads; he focused on constituent services and local issues; and he refused to "pander" to the Tea Party supporters, instead confronting them head-on, arguing that the Republican Party needed to be more inclusive.[10][11][12][13][56]

In the run-up to the Republican primary, Graham's approval rating improved. According to a February 2013 Winthrop poll, he had a 59% positive rating among likely Republican voters.[57] Graham won the June 10 primary with 178,833 votes (56.42%). His nearest challenger, State Senator Lee Bright, received 48,904 (15.4%).[58]

Graham won the general election, defeating the Democratic nominee, State Senator Brad Hutto, 54% to 39%. Independent Thomas Ravenel (a former Republican State Treasurer) and Libertarian Victor Kocher received 3.8% and 2.7% of the vote, respectively.[59]

2020

Democrat Jaime Harrison challenged Graham in the 2020 Senate election.[60] The race was unexpectedly competitive, with many polls in the last few months of the race showing it as very close. Harrison also had record fundraising numbers. Despite this, Graham defeated Harrison by more than ten percentage points, 54.4% to 44.2%, in the November 3 general election.[61]

Committee assignments

In November 2018, Senator Chuck Grassley, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, announced that he would become chair of the Senate Finance Committee, and that Graham would take his place as chair of the Judiciary Committee, pending his formal selection by colleagues.[62][63][64]

Graham and President George W. Bush visit Charleston Air Force Base in 2007
U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter and Senators Joni Ernst, Dan Sullivan, John McCain, Tom Cotton, Lindsey Graham, and Cory Gardner attending the 2016 International Institute for Strategic Studies Asia Security Summit in Singapore

Current

Previous

Caucus memberships

Graham is a member of the board of directors of the International Republican Institute.[66]

Relationship with Donald Trump

Graham and Donald Trump in January 2019

In July 2015, when Graham was a presidential candidate, he called Donald Trump, then another presidential candidate, a "jackass" for saying that Graham's close friend, Senator John McCain, was "not a war hero." Trump reacted by calling Graham an "idiot" and revealing Graham's personal cellphone number at a campaign rally, asking people to call Graham.[67]

In December 2015, Trump, the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination, called for a ban on Muslims entering the United States. Graham, who had very little support as a presidential candidate, responded: "He's a race-baiting, xenophobic, religious bigot ... He doesn't represent my [Republican] party ... I don't think he has a clue about anything ... He is empowering radical Islam ... You know how you make America great again? Tell Donald Trump to go to hell." He added, "I'd rather lose without Donald Trump than try to win with him."[68]

In May 2016 Graham tweeted, "If we nominate Trump, we will get destroyed...and we will deserve it."[69]

In June 2016, after Trump criticized a judge of Mexican heritage, implying he could be biased, Graham said to CNN: "I don't think [Trump is] racist but he's playing the race card ... I think it's very un-American ... If he continues this line of attack then I think people really need to reconsider the future of the [Republican] party." Graham told The New York Times that that incident "is probably it" for anyone looking to withdraw their support of Trump: "There'll come a time when the love of country will trump hatred of Hillary Clinton", the Democratic nominee for president.[70]

In the November presidential election, Graham did not vote for Trump, saying, "I couldn't go where Donald Trump wanted to take the USA & GOP." He voted for independent candidate Evan McMullin.[71]

In March 2017, Graham held a meeting with Trump. Graham said that the meeting went so well that he passed his new phone number to Trump, in reference to their 2015 conflict.[16][72] In October 2017, Graham and Trump played golf together on multiple occasions, with Graham praising the first outing.[73] In November 2017, Graham criticized the media's reporting on Trump: "What concerns me about the American press is this endless, endless attempt to label the guy some kind of kook not fit to be president." (In February 2016, Graham said of Trump: "I think he's a kook. I think he's crazy. I think he's unfit for office.")[74][75]

In April 2018, Graham said that he would support Trump's reelection in 2020.[76] In January 2019, Graham said that Republicans must support Trump's policies: "If we undercut the president, that's the end of his presidency and the end of our party."[77]

Graham joins President Donald Trump for swearing-in of recently confirmed Attorney General William Barr on February 14, 2019

In February 2019 Mark Leibovich interviewed Graham for The New York Times Magazine. He asked Graham how he became a prominent Trump supporter. Graham responded that he was attempting "to be relevant": "I've got an opportunity up here working with the president to get some really good outcomes for the country ... I have never been called this much by a president in my life ... He's asked me to do some things, and I've asked him to do some things in return." Graham said he had been gaining influence with Trump and was attempting to enter Trump's inner circle, where he would reach a level of influence on par with Melania Trump, Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner. He said that he had had a "political marriage" with John McCain, but as for his relationship with Trump: "I personally like him. We play golf. He's very nice to me." Graham also said that a good relationship with Trump would help his prospects of reelection to the Senate in 2020.[78]

Seven months after the death of McCain, one of Graham's "dearest friends",[79] Trump repeatedly criticized McCain. Graham was then criticized for not standing up for McCain. Graham responded, "To all those people who bring up this narrative, you just hate Trump ... You're not offended about me and McCain; you're trying to use me to get to Trump ... I'm not into this idea that the only way to honor John McCain is to trash out Trump." He also said, "The bottom line here is I'm going to help President Trump."[80] McCain had banned Trump from his funeral. Trump's daughter Ivanka attended his funeral, reportedly at the invitation of Graham, who had reportedly gotten McCain's wife's permission.[81] According to Graham, Trump called him after he delivered an emotional farewell to McCain on the Senate floor, telling him he "did right by his friend."[82]

On May 14, 2019, Graham came under scrutiny, including from Senator Joe Manchin, after encouraging Donald Trump Jr. to ignore a subpoena delivered by the Senate Intelligence Committee.[83]

In July 2019, Graham said he did not think Trump was racist and that he did not think that Trump's statements that certain Democratic congresswomen should "go back and help fix the totally broken and crime infested places from which they came" were racist. Graham said, "I don't think a Somali refugee embracing Trump would be asked to go back. If you're racist, you want everybody to go back because they are black or Muslim."[74] Earlier in August 2018, The Washington Post reported that Graham had said, "I have never heard him make a single racist statement. Not even close."[84]

On October 8, 2019, during an interview with Jonathan Swan of Axios, Graham condemned Trump's announcement of an intention to withdraw U.S. troops from northern Syria, saying that Trump was putting the nation and his presidency at risk, and that it was without the support of key national security advisers.[85] Media focused on Graham's reversals and Trump's apparent lack of appreciation for his advice.[86]

In December 2019, as two articles of impeachment against Trump moved to a vote before the full House and referral to the Senate for trial, Graham said, "I am trying to give a pretty clear signal I have made up my mind. I'm not trying to pretend to be a fair juror here", adding, "this thing will come to the Senate, and it will die quickly, and I will do everything I can to make it die quickly."[87] He also announced that he held "disdain for the accusations and the process. So I don't need any witnesses" for the Senate trial.[88] In response, Democrats referenced statements Graham made during the 1998 impeachment of Bill Clinton, including his citation of Richard Nixon as proof that a president who ignored a subpoena should be impeached for taking "the power from Congress over the impeachment process away from Congress" and becoming "judge and jury" himself.[89]

Reaction to 2020 presidential election results

Even after all major news networks projected that Joe Biden had won the 2020 United States presidential election, Graham said that Trump "should not concede" because "if Republicans don't challenge and change the U.S. election system, there will never be another Republican president elected again".[90] Graham said he donated $500,000 to Trump's election lawsuits in various states,[91] and that the option should be "on the table" for Republican state legislators to invalidate election results due to alleged "corruption" by appointing presidential electors who would vote for Trump.[92]

After receiving an affidavit by Pennsylvania postal worker Richard Hopkins alleging that his postmaster discussed backdating mail ballots, Graham issued a statement that "all credible allegations of voting irregularities and misconduct be investigated to ensure the integrity of the 2020 elections", including Hopkins's.[93] Hopkins's affidavit was released by Project Veritas, a controversial conservative organization known for using deceptive tactics; Project Veritas later released a recording in which Hopkins says that he did not hear his postmaster explicitly discuss backdating ballots, and that Project Veritas wrote his affidavit for him.[94]

The 2020 United States presidential election in Georgia produced an initial count where Biden defeated Trump by around 14,000 votes, triggering a recount due to the small margin.[95] While the recount was ongoing, Graham privately called the Georgia Secretary of State, Brad Raffensperger to discuss Georgia's vote counting.[95] Raffensperger, a Republican, told The Washington Post that Graham had asked Raffensperger whether Raffensperger could disqualify all mail-in ballots in counties with more signature errors.[95] Gabriel Sterling, a Republican election official and staffer to Raffensperger, was present on the call; Sterling confirmed that Graham had asked that question.[96] Raffensperger viewed Graham's question as a suggestion to throw out legally cast ballots. Graham denied suggesting this.[95] Graham acknowledged calling Raffensperger to find out how to "protect the integrity of mail-in voting" and "how does signature verification work", but said that if Raffensperger "feels threatened by that conversation, he's got a problem".[95] Graham said that he was investigating in his capacity as a senator, although he was the chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee.[97] He went on to claim that he had also spoken to Arizona's and Nevada's secretaries of state.[97] Those secretaries denied this, and Graham reversed himself, saying that he had spoken to the governor of Arizona and no official in Nevada.[97] The Washington Post reported in February 2021 that Fani Willis, the Fulton County, Georgia district attorney, was examining Graham's phone call to Raffensperger as part of a criminal investigation into possible efforts to illegally overturn Georgia's election results.[98]

On January 6, 2021, Graham, Vice President Mike Pence, and members of the Senate and House were evacuated from the Capitol building after Trump supporters attacked the United States Capitol. The joint session of Congress reconvened late into the night and the early morning in the Senate chamber to count and confirm the Electoral College votes. Graham spoke, disagreeing with many of his Republican colleagues, who mostly supported Trump's denials of the election's results, saying, "it's a uniquely bad idea to delay this election", and though "I hate it", they could "count me out, enough is enough". He finished by saying, "Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are lawfully elected and will become the President and the Vice President of the United States on January the 20th."[99]

In the resulting second impeachment trial of Donald Trump, Graham voted "not guilty".[100]

On May 28, 2021, Graham voted against creating the January 6 commission.[101]

In August 2021, The New York Times reported that Graham called Biden days after the election in an effort to revive their friendship and told Biden he had called for a special counsel investigation of Biden's son Hunter during the campaign only to appease Trump supporters among his constituents. A Graham spokesman disputed the Times's account.[102]

2024 election

Graham appeared at Trump's first prime-time 2024 campaign rally on January 28, 2023, and told Fox News host Sean Hannity that he would support Trump "because I know what I'm going to get", mostly regarding perceived international threats.[103]

Political positions

Senators Joe Biden and Lindsey Graham with Iraq's interim Prime Minister Allawi, inside the Green Zone of Baghdad, June 19, 2004

Tea Party opponents have called Graham a "moderate Republican."[9][10] He calls himself a "Reagan-style Republican", and has been called a fairly conservative Republican with "a twang of moderation" and "an independent streak."[6][21][25]

Much of the Tea Party criticism focuses on his willingness to be bipartisan and work with Democrats on issues like climate change, tax reform and immigration reform and his belief that judicial nominees should not be opposed solely because of their philosophical positions.[3][4][5][6][7][8] He voted to confirm both of President Obama's Supreme Court nominees, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan.[104][105] For his part, Graham has criticized and confronted the Tea Party, arguing for a more inclusive Republican Party.[7][9][10][11][12][13] In the first session of the 115th Congress, Graham was ranked the sixth most bipartisan senator by the Lugar Center and Georgetown's McCourt School of Public Policy.[106]

We lost. President Obama won. I've got a lot of opportunity to disagree, but the Constitution, in my view, puts an obligation on me not to replace my judgment for his, not to think of the hundred reasons I would pick someone different ... I view my duty as to protect the Judiciary and to ensure that hard-fought elections have meaning in our system. I'm going to vote for her [Kagan] because I believe this election has consequences. And this president chose someone who is qualified to serve on this court and understands the difference between being a liberal judge and a politician. At the end of the day, it wasn't a hard decision ... She would not have been someone I would have chosen, but the person who did choose, President Obama, chose wisely.[105]

— Graham, explaining his vote to confirm Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court.

Supreme Court nominations

In 2016, after Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia died, Republican senators boycotted Obama's nomination of Merrick Garland. Graham said that Supreme Court vacancies should never be filled in a presidential election year[107] and that "[w]e are setting a precedent today, Republicans are."[108] He said that if a similar situation arose, "you can use my words against me and you'd be absolutely right."[109] In an October 2018 interview, Graham said specifically that "[i]f an opening comes in the last year of President Trump's term, and the primary process has started, we'll wait till the next election."[110]

During the 2018 confirmation hearings following Brett Kavanaugh's nomination to the Supreme Court of the United States, Graham took a strong stance against letting the process be further delayed by Christine Blasey Ford's allegations. Ford accused Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her decades earlier when the two were in high school.[111] Speaking to reporters immediately after the Senate Judiciary Committee questioned Ford, Graham declared himself unmoved by her testimony, doubting her recollection that it was Kavanaugh who had assaulted her.[112]

When Kavanaugh testified before the committee the following day, Graham used his time to speak in Kavanaugh's defense, describing him as a victim who had been put through "hell" by "the most unethical sham" he had seen in his time in politics and that if Kavanaugh was looking for fair process, he had "c[o]me to the wrong town at the wrong time". A CNN commentator characterized Graham's speech as an "audition" for Attorney General.[113]

In 2019, Graham became chair of the Judiciary Committee.[114] In May 2020, Graham said the Senate would work to confirm a Supreme Court nominee if a vacancy arose before the November election.[115] He said "Merrick Garland was a different situation. You had the president of one party nominating, and you had the Senate in the hands of the other party. A situation where you've got them both would be different."[116] In August 2020, he said "[a]fter Kavanaugh's confirmation, the rules have changed as far as I'm concerned."[117][118]

In September 2020, Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died. Within a day, Graham expressed support for the Senate immediately voting on Trump's nominee to succeed her. The New York Times called Graham's position "a complete and brazen reversal" of his earlier stance.[118] Graham said that in 2013, years before his 2016 pledge, Democrats had changed Senate rules to allow a simple majority vote for nominees to United States courts of appeals.[119][120]

Free speech

Graham (far right) at the signing of the Fair Sentencing Act in 2010

During an April 3, 2011, appearance on Face the Nation,[121] Graham "suggested that Congress take unspecified though formal action against the Koran-burning by Florida preacher Terry Jones", in light of an attack on United Nations personnel triggered by Jones's actions.[122] Asserting that "Congress might need to explore the need to limit some forms of freedom of speech",[123] Graham argued, "Free speech is a great idea, but we're in a war," and claimed that "during World War II, we had limits on what you could say if it would inspire the enemy."[122][124]

Gang of 14

On May 23, 2005, Graham was one of the so-called Gang of 14 senators forging a compromise that brought a halt to the continued blockage of an up-or-down vote on judicial nominees. This compromise negated both the Democrats' use of a filibuster and the Republican "nuclear option". Under the agreement, the Democrats retained the power to filibuster a Bush judicial nominee only in an "extraordinary circumstance", and subsequently, three conservative Bush appellate court nominees (Janice Rogers Brown, Priscilla Owen and William H. Pryor Jr.) received a vote by the full Senate.[125][126]

National Security Agency surveillance

In response to the 2013 disclosures about the United States National Security Agency and its international partners' global surveillance of foreign nationals and U.S. citizens, Graham said he was "glad" the NSA was collecting phone records. He said, "I'm a Verizon customer. I don't mind Verizon turning over records to the government if the government is going to make sure that they try to match up a known terrorist phone with somebody in the United States. I don't think you're talking to the terrorists. I know you're not. I know I'm not. So we don't have anything to worry about."[127][128]

On July 25, 2013, the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations unanimously adopted an amendment by Graham to the Fiscal Year 2014 Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Bill[129] that sought sanctions against any country that offered asylum to former NSA contractor Edward Snowden.[130][131][132]

Detainee interrogations

In July 2005, Graham secured the declassification and release of memoranda outlining concerns made by senior military lawyers as early as 2003 about the legality of the interrogations of prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay.[133]

Of U.S. citizens accused of supporting terrorism, Graham said before the Senate, "When they say, 'I want my lawyer,' you tell them, 'Shut up. You don't get a lawyer. You are an enemy combatant, and we are going to talk to you about why you joined Al Qaeda.'"[134] In response to this and a June 2004 U.S. Supreme Court decision allowing detainees to file habeas corpus petitions to challenge their detentions, Graham authored an amendment to a Department of Defense Authorization Act[135] attempting to clarify the authority of American courts. The amendment passed in November 2005 by a vote of 49–42 in the Senate despite opposition from human rights groups and legal scholars who contended that it limited the rights of detainees.[136][137]

Graham has said he amended the Department of Defense Authorization Act in order to give military lawyers, as opposed to politically appointed lawyers, a more independent role in the oversight of military commanders. He has argued that two of the largest problems leading to the detainee abuse scandals at Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib were this lack of oversight and troops' confusion over legal boundaries.[138]

Graham added that military lawyers had long observed the provisions of the Uniform Code of Military Justice and the Geneva Convention, but that the Bush administration had not considered those provisions in decisions about the treatment of Guantanamo Bay detainees. He claimed that better legal oversight within the military's chain of command would prevent future detainee abuse.[139]

In February 2006, Graham joined Senator Jon Kyl in filing an amicus brief in the Hamdan v. Rumsfeld case that argued "Congress was aware" that the Detainee Treatment Act of 2005 would strip the Supreme Court of jurisdiction to hear "pending cases, including this case" brought by Guantanamo detainees.[140]

In a May 2009 CNN interview, Graham referred to the domestic internment of German and Japanese prisoners of war and U.S. Citizens as a model for domestic detention of Guantanamo detainees, saying, "We had 450,000 Japanese and German prisoners housed in the United States during World War II. As a nation, we can deal with this."[141]

Immigration reform

Graham was a supporter of "comprehensive immigration reform", of S. 2611, the McCain-Kennedy Immigration Reform Bill of 2006, and of S. 1348, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007. His positions on immigration, and in particular collaborating with Senator Ted Kennedy, earned Graham the ire of conservative activists.[142] The controversy prompted conservative activists to support a primary challenge in 2008 by longtime Republican national committeeman Buddy Witherspoon,[143][144] but Graham won the nomination by a large margin.[145] 

In early 2010, Graham began working with Democratic New York Senator Chuck Schumer on immigration reform.[146] The talks broke down later that year.[147]

In July 2010, Graham suggested that U.S. citizenship as a birthright guaranteed by the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution should be amended, and that any children born to illegal immigrants in the United States should be considered illegal immigrants.[148] He alleged, "Half the children born in hospitals on our borders are the children of illegal immigrants."[149]

In November 2012, Graham and Schumer resumed their talks on comprehensive immigration reform.[147] On January 28, 2013, Graham was a member of a bipartisan group of eight senators that announced principles for comprehensive immigration reform.[150] On June 23, 2013, Graham said that the Senate was close to obtaining 70 votes to pass the reform package.[151]

In May 2019, Graham proposed instituting new immigration laws that would only allow migrants to apply for asylum from their home country or Mexico, smooth the process to deport unaccompanied children to Central America, and extend the period by which migrant children could be detained from 20 days to 100 days.[152]

In July 2019, Graham visited a migrant detention center in Texas. He reacted that it was not "a concentration camp" but "a facility overwhelmed". Of the migrants, Graham said, "I don't care if they have to stay in these facilities for 400 days. We're not going to let those men go that I saw. It would be dangerous."[153]

Internet and technology

In May 2018, Graham voted against legislation that would have overturned the FCC's ruling[clarification needed] and restored net neutrality.[154]

In March 2017, Graham voted for the Broadband Consumer Privacy Proposal that removed the FCC's internet privacy rules and allowed internet service providers to sell customers' browsing history without their permission.[155][non-primary source needed]

In February 2022, Graham and Richard Blumenthal introduced bipartisan legislation, as part of the EARN IT Act, to incentivize tech companies to remove child sexual abuse material (CSAM) from their platforms and remove blanket immunity for violations of laws related to online child pornography.[156][157]

Gun rights

Graham opposes extending background checks.[158] He has said, "universal background checks are going to require universal [gun] registration."[159] He has called current gun laws "broken", citing an example of a woman who pleaded guilty by reason of insanity to attempting to kill President George W. Bush, but was later able to pass a background check and buy a gun.[160] To this end, in March 2013, he joined Senators Jeff Flake, Mark Begich, and Mark Pryor in introducing a bill that would close a loophole by flagging people who attempt to buy guns who have used an insanity defense, were ruled dangerous by a court or had been committed by a court to mental health treatment. It did not address the gun show loophole.[161]

In 2022, Graham became one of ten Republican senators to support a bipartisan agreement on gun control, which included a red flag provision, a support for state crisis intervention orders, funding for school safety resources, stronger background checks for buyers under the age of 21, and penalties for straw purchases.[162]

Health care

Graham opposed President Obama's health reform legislation; he voted against the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) in December 2009,[163] and against the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010.[164] He played a leading role in efforts to repeal Obamacare, authoring the Graham–Cassidy amendment to Republicans' 2017 repeal efforts. The amendment would have given states permission to remove protections for individuals with preexisting conditions, such as allowing insurers to charge them higher prices for insurance.[165]

Graham is a cosponsor of the Healthy Americans Act.[citation needed]

Vaccines

Graham criticized Senator Rand Paul after Paul said, "I've heard of many tragic cases of walking, talking, normal children who wound up with profound mental disorders after vaccines." Graham said that Paul was "creating anxiety for no good reason" and "looking at this issue through a libertarian's eyes, not a physician's eyes".[166]

Graham continued:

As to freedom, it is cherished, it is hard to come by, it is hard to hang on to. But freedom without responsibility is chaos, so to those who push the idea that freedom would allow an individual to do anything, anywhere, at any time, I reject. Your freedom ends where my ability to raise my family safely begins. So I would urge every American to vaccinate their children and I would reject any effort to stop vaccinations until someone can show me a scientific reason to do so.

Abortion

In 2015, Graham sponsored the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act in the Senate, which bans abortion after 20 weeks of gestation on a national basis, with some exceptions (to save the life of the mother, or when the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest).[167] In 2018, Graham was anti-abortion, but said that Roe v. Wade is precedent that should not be overturned without good reason.[168] In 2020, he was one of 13 Republican senators who declined to sign an amicus brief asking the Supreme Court to overturn Roe.[169][170]

In May 2022, Graham advocated that the Supreme Court overturn Roe to ensure that "every state will decide if abortion is legal and on what terms", as this would be "the most constitutionally sound way of dealing with this issue and the way the United States handled the issue until 1973."[171] In June 2022, he asserted that all conservatives "believed that there's nothing in the Constitution giving the federal government the right to regulate abortion".[172] In August 2022, Graham said that "states should decide the issue of abortion" and that he had "been consistent" on this.[173][174]

Despite previously saying that abortion should be left up to the states, in September 2022 Graham introduced legislation to institute a federal ban on abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy with exceptions for rape, incest, and the life of the patient.[175] He said: "This is not a states' rights issue. This is a human right issue ... I am going to advocate a national minimum standard."[176] His proposed legislation would force states to ban abortion after 15 weeks, but it would not require states to allow it up to that point.[177]

LGBTQ+ rights

In 1996, Graham voted for the Defense of Marriage Act,[178] which became federal law that year; it defined marriage as between one man and one woman, and enacted non-recognition of same-sex marriages at the federal level.[179] Graham reiterated his support of the Defense of Marriage Act in 2022.[180]

Graham voted to support a constitutional amendment opposing marriage between same-sex couples in 2006. He said, "I believe in the traditional definition of marriage as being between one man and one woman. Traditional marriage is an institution worth protecting and this amendment will accomplish that goal. A constitutional amendment is the only effective way to cut off the growing trend among judges to create a constitutional right to same-sex marriage."[181] After the Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, Graham said that although he disagreed with the ruling, he no longer believed that a constitutional amendment was a viable action on the issue.[182]

In August 2022, after the House of Representatives approved a bill to recognize same-sex marriages at the federal level and that bill was sent to the Senate, Graham said that "states should decide the issue of marriage [...] if you're going to ask me to have the federal government take over defining marriage, I'm going to say no".[183]

Climate change

On December 10, 2009, Graham and Senators John Kerry and Joe Lieberman co-sponsored a letter to President Obama announcing their commitment to passing a climate change bill and outlining its framework.[184][185] Graham was identified as a potential Republican supporter of a climate change bill and thought to be a likely sponsor of the final bill,[186] but he pulled his support, saying that he disapproved of Senate Democrats moving forward with legislation to deal with immigration issues, a reaction to Arizona's passage of an illegal immigration law. Graham's withdrawal of support left passage of the climate change bill in doubt.[187]

In June 2010, Graham told reporters, "The science about global warming has changed. I think they've oversold this stuff, quite frankly. I think they've been alarmist and the science is in question. The whole movement has taken a giant step backward."[188] He also said that he planned to vote against the climate bill he had originally co-sponsored, citing further restriction of offshore drilling added to the bill and its impact on transportation.[187] In 2015, Graham said he "completely understand[s] and accept[s]" that climate change is real, but said "I don't know" the role human activity played.[189]

In 2020, Graham sponsored the Growing Climate Solutions Act, a bill that would make it simpler for farmers to sell carbon credits on existing carbon trading markets in California and in the Northeast.[190]

In November 2023, Graham and Bill Cassidy co-sponsored the Foreign Pollution Fee Act. Endorsed by the Sierra Club, the bill (S. 3198; referred to the Senate Finance Committee) proposed imposing a carbon tariff on energy and industrial imports based on the good's emission intensity or carbon footprint as compared with the same domestic good to impose a carbon price on goods from countries with greater greenhouse gas emissions than the United States.[191][192][193]

Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen meets with Senators Graham, John McCain, Tom Cotton, John Barrasso, Cory Gardner, Joni Ernst, and Dan Sullivan in June 2016.

Foreign policy

Graham supports an interventionist foreign policy.[194] In 2002, he voted for the Iraq Resolution, which authorized military action against Iraq.[195] He also supported the invasion of Iraq.[196] Graham and Senators John McCain and Joe Lieberman, who were frequently dubbed "the three amigos", traveled widely, pushing for American military intervention, particularly after the September 11 attacks. Their influence reached its zenith in 2007 as President Bush advocated for his surge strategy in Iraq, declining shortly before Lieberman retired from the Senate in 2013.[197][198] Kelly Ayotte, who joined the Senate in 2011, was considered Lieberman's replacement in the group.[199][200]

Graham was a frequent critic of the foreign policy of the Barack Obama administration. He threatened to derail the confirmation of Obama's nominee for secretary of defense, Republican former Senator Chuck Hagel, a centrist.[201] Graham remarked that Hagel "would be the most antagonistic secretary of defense towards the state of Israel in our nation's history."[202]

On February 28, 2013, Graham criticized Obama and both political parties on the Senate floor for allowing the budget reduction to occur with "two-thirds of the budget" exempt from reductions and said the impact on the Department of Defense would create a "hollow military" that "invites aggression".[203][204][205][206]

War in Afghanistan

John McCain and Lindsey Graham, along with Lt. Gen. Richard P. Mills, in Afghanistan, 2010

Graham suggested that the U.S. stay in Afghanistan permanently, claiming that this would benefit both nations, as the U.S. would have a clear idea of what was happening in the region on a daily basis, and Afghan security forces would have an edge militarily to ensure that Afghanistan never fell back into the hands of the Taliban.[207] He further claimed that Afghan leaders accept this long-term U.S. military presence since it benefits them, but Iran and some of its allies oppose it, a debatable claim.[208]

Graham vehemently opposed Joe Biden's plan to withdraw all U.S. troops from Afghanistan. He suggested that this plan puts the U.S. in danger and could cause "another 9/11".[209] Soon after the withdrawal of U.S. troops started, the Taliban launched an offensive against the Afghan government, quickly advancing in front of a collapsing Afghan Armed Forces.[210] On July 8, 2021, Graham called President Biden's decision a "disaster in the making."[211]

Iran

On November 6, 2010, Graham called for a preemptive military strike to weaken the Iranian regime.[212] In 2011, he supported a continuing U.S. military presence in Iraq, saying, "If we're not smart enough to work with the Iraqis to have 10,000 to 15,000 American troops in Iraq in 2012, Iraq could go to hell."[213]

On an episode of Fox and Friends, Graham joked that it would be "terrible" if a DNA test showed he had Iranian ancestry. Co-host Brian Kilmeade responded, "Well, they have great people, just bad leaders," which Graham confirmed.[214][215] The president of the National Iranian American Council[215] and a number of high-profile Iranian-Americans criticized Graham's comments.[216][214]

During the 2023 Israel–Hamas war, Graham called for the U.S. to threaten Iran's oil infrastructure if the conflict escalated.[217] In a CNN interview, he called for the U.S. and Israel to bomb Iran even if it wasn't involved in Hamas's attack on Israel. He also said that the U.S. would win a war with Iran if it broke out.[218]

Russia

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko presents the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise to Graham, December 30, 2016

In December 2010, Graham was one of 26 senators to vote against the ratification of New Start,[219] a nuclear arms reduction treaty between the U.S. and the Russian Federation obliging both countries to have no more than 1,550 strategic warheads or 700 launchers deployed during the next seven years along with providing a continuation of on-site inspections that halted when START I expired the previous year. It was the first arms treaty with Russia in eight years.[220]

In August 2011, Graham co-sponsored a resolution that contended that "Russia's invasion of Georgian land in 2008 was an act of aggression, not only to Georgia but to all new democracies."[citation needed]

On July 16, 2013, Graham suggested the United States should consider boycotting the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, because of "what the Russian government is doing throughout the world".[221]

Russo-Ukrainian War

On March 3, 2022, in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Graham tweeted, "The only way this ends is for somebody in Russia to take this guy out", referring to Vladimir Putin. The tweet, which was viewed as suggesting that a Russian resident should assassinate Putin, drew backlash from American politicians, who condemned the idea and proposed heavier sanctions instead.[222]

On May 26, 2023, the Office of the President of Ukraine released an edited video showing Graham talking to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and remarking that "the Russians are dying", followed by a comment that the American military assistance to Ukraine was the "best money we've ever spent".[223][224] In response, Graham was sharply criticized by the Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev. The Office of the President of Ukraine later released the unedited version of the interview, clarifying that Graham's two remarks were unrelated.[225][226]

On May 29, 2023, the Russian Interior Ministry issued an arrest warrant for Graham for his comments about the war. In response, Graham tweeted that the news brought him "immense joy" and that he would "wear the arrest warrant issued by Putin's corrupt and immoral government as a Badge of Honor".[227] In a follow-up tweet, Graham added that he would submit to the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court should Russia attempt to serve the warrant.[228]

Libya

Graham supported the NATO-led military intervention in Libya.[229] On January 29, 2013, Graham said that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton "got away with murder" after her testimony about the 2012 Benghazi attack,[230] but the next year he said that the House Intelligence Committee report on Benghazi was "full of crap" and that the Obama administration had been cleared of many of the charges therein.[231][232][233]

Israel/Palestine

Graham attended the opening of the U.S. Embassy to Israel in Jerusalem in May 2018
Graham with Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu on March 15, 2019

On January 5, 2017, Graham condemned Obama for abstaining from UN Security Council Resolution 2334, which condemned Israeli settlement building in the West Bank and eastern Jerusalem as a violation of international law.[234]

On March 11, 2019, Graham said he would encourage the Trump administration to recognize the Golan Heights as part of Israel.[235]

On October 10, 2023, Graham tweeted that he "unapologetically stand[s] with Israel" during the 2023 Israel–Hamas war.[236] He called the conflict a "religious war" and said that Gaza should be "flattened".[237] On October 31, 2023, Graham said that no amount of civilian casualties in Gaza would lead him to question Israel's goal of eradicating Hamas.[238][239]

Venezuela

In May 2019, Graham called for a military invasion of Venezuela to overthrow Nicolás Maduro amid the 2019 Venezuelan presidential crisis.[240]

Niger

In October 2017, in the wake of the Tongo Tongo ambush, which killed four U.S. soldiers, Graham said, "I didn't know there was a thousand troops in Niger."[241] A few days later, he called for an expanded role of the U.S. military in Niger: "You're going to see more actions in Africa, not less; you're going to see more aggression by the United States toward our enemies, not less; you're going to have decisions being made not in the White House but out in the field."[242]

Syria

In July 2018, Graham and Senator Jeanne Shaheen visited Manbij in Syria and met the Manbij Military Council, which led an offensive to liberate the city from ISIS in 2016 with help from the US-led coalition.[243]

Saudi Arabia

In March 2015, Graham supported the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen,[244] saying, "We want to have a relationship with Saudi Arabia. They're a strategic partner. They're a mortal enemy of the Iranians."[245] In June 2019, he was one of seven Republicans to vote to block Trump's Saudi arms deal providing weapons to Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Jordan, and one of five Republicans to vote against an additional 20 arms sales.[246] In late 2019, Graham took a warmer approach toward Saudi Arabia. He praised the Trump administration for sending thousands of additional troops to Saudi Arabia to counter Iran's threat.[247] He also praised Saudi Arabia for opening its airspace to Israeli flights.[248]

Turkey

In October 2019, Graham said he would "introduce bipartisan sanctions against Turkey if they invade Syria" and that he would "call for their suspension from NATO if they attack Kurdish forces who assisted the US in the destruction of the ISIS Caliphate."[249]

Armenian genocide

In November 2019, Graham blocked a Senate resolution to officially recognize the Armenian genocide.[250] In December 2019, he voted for the resolution, which passed the Senate unanimously.[251]

Robert Mueller's investigation

In January 2018, and in the first known congressional criminal referral in the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, Graham and Chuck Grassley recommended charges against ex-MI6 officer Christopher Steele, named as author of the Steele dossier.[252] Grassley and Graham said that they had reason to believe that Steele had lied to federal authorities.[252] According to The New York Times, "It was not clear why, if a crime is apparent in the F.B.I. reports that were reviewed by the Judiciary Committee, the Justice Department had not moved to charge Mr. Steele already. The circumstances under which Mr. Steele is alleged to have lied were unclear, as much of the referral was classified."[252]

In April 2018, after the FBI raid on the hotel room and offices of Trump's personal attorney, Michael Cohen, Graham, Cory Booker, Chris Coons, and Thom Tillis introduced new legislation to "limit President Trump's ability to fire special counsel Robert Mueller." Termed the Special Counsel Independence and Integrity Act, the legislation would allow any special counsel, in this case Mueller, receive an "expedited judicial review" in the 10 days after being dismissed to determine whether the dismissal was appropriate. If not, the special counsel would be reinstated. At the same time, according to The Hill, the bill would "codify regulations" that a special counsel could only be fired by a senior Justice Department official, having to provide reasons in writing.[253]

On March 14, 2019, Graham blocked a resolution calling for Mueller's report to be made public after it passed the House unanimously.[254]

After Mueller's testimony to two congressional committees on July 24, 2019, Graham speculated that "the Mueller report is in name only. It clearly wasn't the Mueller report. It was just in name."[255] On June 25, 2019, Graham said, "The president gave 1.4 million documents to Mueller. [Don] McGahn, his lawyer, testified for 30 hours. He made everybody available to Mueller that Mueller wanted to talk to, and he... answered questions in writing, so this president did nothing to stop Mueller from finding the truth."[256]

Taxation

Although Graham signed Grover Norquist's Taxpayer Protection Pledge in June 2012, he went on record supporting the closure of tax loopholes without compensating decreases in other tax revenue, saying, "We're so far in debt that if you don't give up some ideological ground, the country sinks."[257]

Trade

The Cato Institute's Center for Trade Policy Studies identifies Graham, during his U.S. House and U.S. Senate tenure, as having a mostly protectionist and pro-subsidies voting record.[258][259]

2015 Charleston church shooting and Confederate flag issue

After a mass shooting at a historic African American church in Charleston on June 17, 2015, Graham canceled all campaign events to return to South Carolina. In response to questions from the press regarding the calls from some to remove the Confederate flag at a war memorial on the South Carolina State Capitol grounds, Graham said, "Well, at the end of the day it's time for people in South Carolina to revisit that decision. [That] would be fine with me, but this is part of who we are." He continued, "The flag represents to some people a civil war, and that was the symbol of one side. To others it's a racist symbol, and it's been used by people—it's been used in a racist way."[260] Of the shooter responsible for the incident, Graham said, "We're not going to give this a guy an excuse about a book he might have read, or a movie he watched, or a song he listened to, or a symbol out anywhere. It's him ... not the flag."[261]

In a statement issued later, Graham said, "There can be no doubt that the shooting ... was racially motivated and signals to all of us that the scars of our history are still with us today. This murderer said he wanted to start a race war; he has failed miserably. In Charleston this weekend, I saw a community coming together. I saw people seeking solace in what they share together, not in what makes them different."[262]

Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023

Graham was among the 31 Senate Republicans who voted against final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023.[263]

Campaign contributions

In 2016, The Boston Globe reported that Graham was "the only Republican recipient of money from a major Democratic donor now facing scrutiny for some questionable campaign donation habits."[264] The Thornton Law Firm is nationally known for its expertise in asbestos-related litigation. Over a ten-year period, Graham received $62,800 in campaign contributions from the firm's partners. The Boston Globe found that the firm, in almost every case, would reimburse partners' political contributions—in the exact amount[264]—within 10 days of the contributions being made. Between 2010 and 2014, the firm's partners and one of their wives contributed $1.6 million to politicians; $1.4 million was given back to the partners from the firm. The firm told reporters that according to outside consultants the practice was not unlawful because the checks are not bonuses, instead coming out of the partners' firm equity accounts.[264]

A spokesman for Graham said that Graham would return the money he received from the firm's lawyers if the law firm were indicted or convicted on corruption charges.[264]

Presidential politics

Secretary of State John Kerry meets with Senators John McCain, John Barrasso and Lindsey Graham in Jerusalem on January 3, 2014

Graham supported John McCain for president in 2000 and served as national co-chair of McCain's 2008 presidential campaign.[11][265]

In 2012, Graham's endorsement was highly sought,[266] but he declined to endorse a Republican candidate before the January South Carolina Republican primary.[267] After Rick Santorum withdrew from the race in April 2012, leaving Mitt Romney as the presumptive nominee, Graham endorsed Romney.[268]

During his Senate reelection race in October 2014, while discussing immigration and foreign policy issues with a reporter from The Weekly Standard, Graham said, "If I get through my general election, if nobody steps up in the presidential mix, if nobody's out there talking ... I may just jump in to get to make these arguments."[269] On March 7, 2015, at a "Politics and Pies" forum, Graham advocated the reversal of defense spending cuts and quipped: "If I were President of the United States, I wouldn't let Congress leave town until we fix this. I would literally use the military to keep them in if I had to."[270]

On April 19, 2015, Graham told Chris Wallace, on the Fox News Sunday show, that he was "91% sure" he would run for president. "If I can raise the money, I'll do it," he said.[271] On May 18, 2015, Graham informally announced that he would run for president on CBS This Morning, saying he was running because he thinks "the world is falling apart."[272]

Graham announced his candidacy for President on June 1, 2015.[273]

On December 21, 2015, Graham suspended his presidential campaign, due to lack of support and poor polling, and on January 15, 2016, endorsed former Florida Governor Jeb Bush.[274] After it appeared certain that Donald Trump would become the Republican nominee in May 2016, Graham announced that he would not vote for Trump or Hillary Clinton, commenting: "I think Donald Trump is going to places where very few people have gone and I'm not going with him."[275] On November 8, 2016, Graham announced that he had voted for Evan McMullin.[276]

Electoral history

South Carolina's 3rd congressional district: results 1994–2000[277]
Year Democratic Votes Pct Republican Votes Pct 3rd party Party Votes Pct
1994 James E. Bryan Jr. 59,932 40% Lindsey Graham 90,123 60% *
1996 Debbie Dorn 73,417 39% Lindsey Graham (incumbent) 114,273 60% Lindal Pennington Natural Law 1,835 1%
1998 (no candidate) Lindsey Graham (incumbent) 129,047 100% Write-ins 402 <1%
2000 George Brightharp 67,170 30% Lindsey Graham (incumbent) 150,180 68% Adrian Banks Libertarian 3,116 1% *

*Write-in and minor candidate notes: In 1994, write-ins received 13 votes. In 2000, Natural Law candidate LeRoy J. Klein received 1,122 votes and write-ins received 33 votes. George Brightharp ran under both the Democratic and United Citizens Parties and received 2,253 votes on the United Citizen line.

Senate elections in South Carolina (Class II): results 2002–2014[277]
Year Democratic Votes Pct Republican Votes Pct 3rd party Party Votes Pct 3rd party Party Votes Pct
2002 Alex Sanders 487,359 44% Lindsey Graham 600,010 54% Ted Adams Constitution 8,228 1% Victor Kocher Libertarian 6,648 1% *
2008 Bob Conley 785,559 42% Lindsey Graham (incumbent) 1,069,137 58% Write-ins 608 <1%
2014 Brad Hutto 480,933 39% Lindsey Graham (incumbent) 672,941 54% Thomas Ravenel Independent 47,588 4% Victor Kocher Libertarian 33,839 3% *
2020 Jaime Harrison 1,110,828 44% Lindsey Graham (incumbent) 1,369,137 54% Bill Bledsoe Constitution 32,845 1%

Primary elections

2008 United States Senate Republican primary election in South Carolina[278]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Lindsey Graham (incumbent) 187,736 66.84%
Republican Buddy Witherspoon 93,125 33.16%
Total votes 280,861 100.00%
2014 United States Senate Republican primary election in South Carolina[279]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Lindsey Graham (incumbent) 178,833 56.42%
Republican Lee Bright 48,904 15.43%
Republican Richard Cash 26,325 8.30%
Republican Det Bowers 23,172 7.31%
Republican Nancy Mace 19,634 6.19%
Republican Bill Connor 16,912 5.34%
Republican Benjamin Dunn 3,209 1.01%
Total votes 316,989 100.00%
2020 United States Senate Republican primary election in South Carolina[280]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Lindsey Graham (incumbent) 317,512 67.69%
Republican Michael LaPierre 79,932 17.04%
Republican Joe Reynolds 43,029 9.17%
Republican Duke Buckner 28,570 6.09%
Total votes 469,043 100.00%

Personal life

Graham helped raise his sister, Darline Graham Nordone, after the deaths of his mother and father, which occurred within 15 months of each other,[281] leaving the two without parents when Graham was 22 and she was 13. Graham has said that his parents' early deaths made him mature more quickly, and Nordone, who introduced her brother at his 2016 announcement of his candidacy for president, said she hoped to be with him on the campaign trail frequently to show voters his softer side. "He's kind of like a brother, a father and a mother rolled into one," she said. "I've always looked up to Lindsey."[282]

Having never married or had children,[11] Graham has said, "I never found time to meet the right girl, or the right girl was smart enough not to have time for me." According to his memoir, while in law school, he had a girlfriend named Debbie, and two more during his time in the Air Force in Germany: a JAG officer named Carol who later served on Colin Powell's staff, and a flight attendant named Sylvia, whom he considered proposing to.[283] He has denied being gay.[284]

Graham lives in Seneca, South Carolina. A Southern Baptist, he is a member of the Corinth Baptist Church.[26]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Whitlock, Craig (May 31, 2015). "5 Things You Should Know About Lindsey Graham". NPR. Archived from the original on July 4, 2017. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
  2. ^ a b Dann, Carrie (December 21, 2015). "South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham Ends Republican Presidential Bid". NBC News. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  3. ^ a b Martin, Jonathan (May 9, 2013). "Lindsey Graham faces down primary challenge". Politico. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved October 8, 2014.
  4. ^ a b Podgers, James (August 5, 2012). "Sen. Lindsey Graham: Qualifications of Judicial Nominees Should Count More Than Politics". ABA Journal. Chicago, Illinois: American Bar Association. Retrieved October 8, 2014.
  5. ^ a b Maass, Harold (May 9, 2013). "Is Lindsey Graham going to get primaried?". The Week. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved October 8, 2014.
  6. ^ a b c d Killian, Linda (June 10, 2014). "Lindsey Graham vs. the Tea Party". The Wall Street Journal. New York City. Archived from the original on September 29, 2019. Retrieved October 11, 2014.
  7. ^ a b c d Jonsson, Patrik (June 11, 2014). "The un-Cantor: Sen. Lindsey Graham wins by poking eye of tea party (+video)". The Christian Science Monitor. Boston, Massachusetts. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved October 11, 2014.
  8. ^ a b Altman, Alex (November 5, 2013). "Lindsey Graham: The Bipartisan Dealmaker Finds Issues to Please GOP Base". Time. New York City. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved October 11, 2014.
  9. ^ a b c Wagstaff, Keith (August 26, 2013). "Can Lindsey Graham survive the Tea Party's wrath?". The Week. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved October 8, 2014.
  10. ^ a b c d Raju, Manu (April 23, 2014). "How Lindsey Graham outmaneuvered the tea party". Politico. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
  11. ^ a b c d e f Draper, Robert (July 1, 2010). "Lindsey Graham, This Year's Maverick". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved October 9, 2014.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g Ball, Molly (June 10, 2014). "How Lindsey Graham Stomped the Tea Party". The Atlantic. Boston, Massachusetts. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved October 9, 2014.
  13. ^ a b c d Murphy, Patricia (June 10, 2014). "Lindsey Graham's Tea Party Teflon". The Daily Beast. Retrieved October 11, 2014.
  14. ^ Rappeport, Alan (June 21, 2015). "Lindsey Graham Announces Presidential Bid". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
  15. ^ Hains, Tim (June 7, 2016). "Lindsey Graham Takes The Off-Ramp: "I'm Not Supporting Mr. Trump"". RealClearPolitics (citing NBC news). Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  16. ^ a b c Miller, Lisa (September 16, 2018). "The "Little Jerk" Once defined by his loathing for Trump, Lindsey Graham is now all-in for the president. Why?". New York. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  17. ^ Parker, Kathleen (January 15, 2019). "What did they do with Lindsey Graham?". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  18. ^ "Senate Judiciary Committee sets confirmation hearing for Trump attorney general pick William Barr". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  19. ^ Summers, Juana (June 28, 2015). "Presidential Aspiration Born From A Modest, And Tragic, Beginning". NPR. Retrieved January 7, 2021. first lived in a room behind his family's business, the Sanitary Café ...
  20. ^ Hawes, Jennifer Berry (November 6, 2020). "An unlikely ascent Love, loss, loyalty, law shape his brand of retail politics Last in polls, last in debates. How long does he go on?". Post and Courier. Retrieved January 7, 2021. His dad, Florence James Graham...He and his wife Millie ran the bar...
  21. ^ a b c d e f g Grove, Lloyd (October 7, 1998). "Lindsey Graham, a Twang of Moderation". The Washington Post. Washington, DC. Archived from the original on December 18, 2018. Retrieved October 9, 2014.
  22. ^ "Millie Walters Graham, 1976, obituary, South Carolina". The Greenville News. June 11, 1976. p. 10. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  23. ^ "Notable Pi Kapps". pikapp.org. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  24. ^ "Congress Members: Lindsey Graham". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on October 29, 2014. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  25. ^ a b "Plain talk from GOP senator". The Baltimore Sun. May 11, 2004. Archived from the original on October 16, 2014. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
  26. ^ a b c "Biography". lgraham.senate.gov. Office of Senator Lindsey Graham. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  27. ^ "Lindsey Graham Fast Facts". CNN. Atlanta, GA. November 9, 2020.
  28. ^ "Enlightenment". The Experience Festival. Archived from the original on April 4, 2012. Retrieved August 29, 2010.
  29. ^ "S.C. Rep. Gulf War Past Questioned". Associated Press. February 19, 1998. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
  30. ^ Pareene, Alex (May 20, 2010). "Lindsey Graham's war lie: Bigger than Richard Blumenthal's". Salon. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
  31. ^ a b c d Whitlock, Craig (August 2, 2015). "Sen. Graham moved up in Air Force Reserve ranks despite light duties". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
  32. ^ 60 M.J. 781 (C.A.A.F. 2004), as referenced in United States v. Lane, 05-0260 (Armed Forces App. September 20, 2006).
  33. ^ Wright, Robin (August 28, 2007). "After Tour of Duty in Iraq, Graham Backs 'Surge'". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  34. ^ Day, Thomas L. (September 6, 2009). "Military Notebook: Robins to hold birthday bash for Air Force". The Sun News. Archived from the original on September 14, 2009. Retrieved September 7, 2009.
  35. ^ Bradner, Eric (May 30, 2015). "Lindsey Graham retires from Air Force ahead of expected White House run". CNN. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved May 30, 2015.
  36. ^ South Carolina Election Commission Annual Report 1992-1993 (PDF). Columbia: South Carolina Election Commission. 1993. p. 96. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 2, 2022.
  37. ^ a b c d e "SC State House 002". ourcampaigns.com. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved October 9, 2014.
  38. ^ Pace, David (November 6, 1997). "17 in House seek probe to impeach president". Newspapers.com. The Record. The Associated Press. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  39. ^ a b Hutcheson, Ron (November 17, 1997). "Some House Republicans can't wait for elections". Newspapers.com. Asheville Citizen-Times. Knight-Rider Newspapers.
  40. ^ Barkham, Patrick (November 18, 1998). "Clinton impeachment timeline". The Guardian. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
  41. ^ "Roll Call 498 Roll Call 498, Bill Number: H. Res. 581, 105th Congress, 2nd Session". clerk.house.gov. Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. October 8, 1998. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
  42. ^ "The Education Of Senator Lindsey Graham". Bloomberg Businessweek. February 27, 2005. Archived from the original on October 22, 2012. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
  43. ^ a b "Roll Call 546 Roll Call 546, Bill Number: H. Res. 611, 105th Congress, 2nd Session". Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. December 19, 1998. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
  44. ^ a b "Roll Call 545 Roll Call 545, Bill Number: H. Res. 611, 105th Congress, 2nd Session". Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. December 19, 1998. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
  45. ^ a b "Roll Call 544 Roll Call 544, Bill Number: H. Res. 611, 105th Congress, 2nd Session". Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. December 19, 1998. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
  46. ^ a b Washington, U. S. Capitol Room H154; p:225-7000, DC 20515-6601 (December 19, 1998). "Roll Call 543 Roll Call 543, Bill Number: H. Res. 611, 105th Congress, 2nd Session". Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved March 6, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  47. ^ "Prosecution Who's Who". The Washington Post. January 14, 1999. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
  48. ^ Trandahl, Jeff (2003). Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 5, 2002. Washington, D.C.: United States House of Representatives. p. 42.
  49. ^ "SC – Election Results". enr-scvotes.org. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved November 7, 2008.
  50. ^ "Statewide Results - 2008 Republican and Democratic Primary". South Carolina State Election Commission. June 27, 2008. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  51. ^ "South Carolina Senate 2008 Race". OpenSecrets.org. OpenSecrets. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved October 9, 2014.
  52. ^ a b Kludt, Tom (April 8, 2014). "Lindsey Graham Faces Big – But Weak – Field of Challengers". NBC News. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
  53. ^ Kludt, Tom (October 30, 2013). "Poll: Lindsey Graham's Approval Rating Tumbles In S.C". Talking Points Memo. Archived from the original on September 11, 2017. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  54. ^ Rosen, James (February 19, 2012). "Graham: 'I expect' a primary challenge". The State. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  55. ^ Sullivan, Sean (September 20, 2012). "Lindsey Graham, 2014 target?". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on May 14, 2015. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
  56. ^ Martin, Jonathan (June 10, 2014). "In South Carolina, Graham Prevails Without a Runoff". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
  57. ^ Clement, Scott (February 26, 2014). "Poll: Lindsey Graham trouncing crowded primary field". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved August 13, 2014.
  58. ^ "South Carolina Primary Election Results". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved November 17, 2019.
  59. ^ "SC – Election Results". enr-scvotes.org.
  60. ^ Fearnow, Benjamin (December 15, 2019). "Lindsey Graham's Democratic Challenger Nearly Tied in Heavily-Republican South Carolina, Poll Shows". Newsweek. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  61. ^ Graham fends off Harrison in South Carolina Senate race Archived November 17, 2020, at the Wayback Machine, Politico, November 3, 2020.
  62. ^ Swoyer, Alex; Dinan, Stephen (November 16, 2018). "Lindsey Graham poised to become Judiciary chairman; Chuck Grassley moves to Finance". The Washington Times. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  63. ^ Merlino, John J. (March 30, 2023). "Committee and Subcommittee Assignments for the One Hundred Eighteenth Congress" (PDF). U.S. Government Publishing Office. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 5, 2023. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  64. ^ "U.S. Senate: Committees". www.senate.gov. Archived from the original on December 5, 2023. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  65. ^ "Lindsey Graham Republican (Elected 2003), SC Senate district". MapLight. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved October 8, 2014.
  66. ^ "BOARD OF DIRECTORS". iri.org. International Republican Institute. Archived from the original on April 28, 2010. Retrieved July 16, 2010.
  67. ^ Moody, Chris (July 22, 2015). "Donald Trump gave out Lindsey Graham's personal cell number to America". CNN. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  68. ^ Kopan, Tal (December 8, 2015). "Lindsey Graham: 'Tell Donald Trump to go to hell'". CNN. Archived from the original on July 19, 2019. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  69. ^ "Graham calls Biden 'lawfully' elected, says 'enough is enough' following breach of Capitol". Fox News. January 8, 2021. (erroneously says the tweet was in 2015).
  70. ^ Raju, Manu; Scott, Eugene; Walsh, Deirdre (June 7, 2016). "Graham: Trump's judge comments 'un-American'". CNN. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  71. ^ Wang, Amy (November 9, 2019). "Sen. Lindsey Graham: 'I voted Evan McMullin for president'". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on August 8, 2017. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  72. ^ Quigley, Aidan (July 3, 2019). "Graham: I gave my new phone number to Trump". Politico. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  73. ^ Feit, Noah (October 14, 2017). "Graham had such a good time golfing with Trump, they played again Saturday". The State. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  74. ^ a b Kwong, Jessica (July 18, 2019). "Lindsey Graham says Donald Trump's not racist, but called him a 'race-baiting bigot' in 2015". Newsweek. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  75. ^ Shugerman, Emily (December 1, 2017). "Senior Republican's attack on the media's portrayal of Trump massively backfires". The Independent. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  76. ^ Bryd, Caitlin (April 19, 2018). "Lindsey Graham and Henry McMaster promise to back Trump in 2020 bid". The Post and Courier. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  77. ^ McLeod, Paul (January 15, 2019). "What The Hell Happened To Lindsey Graham?". BuzzFeed News. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  78. ^ Leibovich, Mark (February 25, 2019). "How Lindsey Graham Went From Trump Skeptic to Trump Sidekick". The New York Times Magazine. Archived from the original on June 6, 2019. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  79. ^ Watson, Kathryn (August 25, 2018). "The lasting friendship of John McCain and Lindsey Graham". CBS News. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved July 20, 2019.
  80. ^ Zhao, Christina (March 27, 2019). "Lindsey Graham says people angry over Trump's McCain attacks 'don't really care:' 'You just hate Trump'". Newsweek. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  81. ^ Rogers, Katie (September 1, 2018). "Washington Mourned John McCain. President Trump Played Golf". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  82. ^ Stracqualursi, Veronica (August 28, 2019). "Graham says Trump called him after McCain tribute speech". CNN. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  83. ^ Cummings, William (May 14, 2019). "'This is not the Lindsey I know': Graham takes heat for advising Trump Jr. to ignore subpoena". USA Today. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved May 14, 2019.
  84. ^ Gearan, Anne; Kim, Seung Min; Dawsey, Josh (August 11, 2018). "Trump condemns 'all types of racism' after a week of racially tinged remarks". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  85. ^ Allen, Mike (October 9, 2019). "Lindsey Graham on Trump: "He's putting the nation at risk"". Axios. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  86. ^ Sykes, Charles (October 7, 2019). "The Humiliation of Lindsey Graham". Politico. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  87. ^ Stracqualursi, Veronica (December 14, 2019). "'I'm not trying to pretend to be a fair juror here': Graham predicts Trump impeachment will 'die quickly' in Senate". CNN. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  88. ^ "Republican tactics spark Democratic claims that impeachment trial is rigged". CNN. December 16, 2019. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved December 17, 2019.
  89. ^ Thuman, Scott (October 10, 2019). "The legal fight over impeachment continues". WJLA. Sinclair Broadcast Group. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved December 17, 2019.
  90. ^ Mastrangelo, Nick (November 8, 2020). "Graham: If Trump concedes election, Republicans will 'never' elect another president". The Hill. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  91. ^ Luna, Kaitlyn (November 6, 2020). "Lindsey Graham donates $500K toward President Trump's legal battle in key battleground states". WBTW. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  92. ^ Otterbein, Holly (November 11, 2020). "Pennsylvania GOP rallies to Trump's defense". Politico. Archived from the original on December 29, 2020. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  93. ^ Castronuovo, Celine (November 7, 2020). "Graham vows Senate Judiciary will investigate 'voting irregularities'". The Hill. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  94. ^ Boburg, Shawn; Bogage, Jacob; Bennett, Dalton (November 12, 2020). "Audio recording shows Pa. postal worker recanting ballot-tampering claim". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  95. ^ a b c d e Garder, Amy. "Ga. secretary of state says fellow Republicans are pressuring him to find ways to exclude ballots". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  96. ^ Gregorian, Dareh; Clark, Dartunorro (November 18, 2020). "Georgia officials spar with Sen. Lindsey Graham over alleged ballot tossing comments". NBC News. Associated Press. Archived from the original on November 18, 2020. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  97. ^ a b c Kane, Paul (November 17, 2020). "Lindsey Graham's one-man voting probe prompts confusion". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 18, 2020. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  98. ^ Gardner, Amy; Hamburger, Tom; Dawsey, Josh. "Graham's post-election call with Raffensperger will be scrutinized in Georgia probe, person familiar with inquiry says". The Washington Post.
  99. ^ "Senator Graham on Arizona Objection". C-SPAN. January 6, 2021. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  100. ^ "Sen. Lindsey Graham releases statement on acquittal of President Trump in second impeachment trial". www.wtoc.com. WTOC. February 13, 2021. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
  101. ^ "Which senators supported a Jan. 6 Capitol riot commission". Washington Post. May 28, 2021.
  102. ^ Thrush, Glenn; Becker, Jo; Hakim, Danny (August 14, 2021). "Tap Dancing With Trump: Lindsey Graham's Quest for Relevance". The New York Times. Archived from the original on August 14, 2021.
  103. ^ Bort, Ryan (January 31, 2023). "Lindsey Graham Makes Desperate Case for Trump as 2024 Bid Sputters". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  104. ^ Kady II, Martin (July 23, 2009). "Graham a 'yes' on Sotomayor". Politico. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
  105. ^ a b Allan, Nicole (July 20, 2010). "Lindsey Graham Dramatically Casts His Vote for Elena Kagan". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved October 8, 2014.
  106. ^ "The Lugar Center - McCourt School Bipartisan Index" (PDF). Washington, D.C.: The Lugar Center. April 24, 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 2, 2018. Retrieved July 2, 2018.
  107. ^ Ankel, Sophia (September 19, 2020). "'Use my words against me': A 2016 video of Lindsey Graham saying a Supreme Court vacancy should never be filled in an election year is going viral". Business Insider. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  108. ^ Connelly, Eileen AJ (September 19, 2020). "Sen. Graham reverses earlier statements, supports Trump filling SCOTUS vacancy". New York Post. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  109. ^ Naughtie, Andrew (September 19, 2020). "Lindsey Graham repeatedly insisted that Supreme Court vacancies shouldn't be filled in election years". The Independent. Archived from the original on September 20, 2020. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  110. ^ Schwartz, Matthew (September 19, 2020). "'Use My Words Against Me': Lindsey Graham's Shifting Position On Court Vacancies". NPR. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  111. ^ Stolberg, Sheryl Gay (September 16, 2018). "Kavanaugh's Nomination in Turmoil as Accuser Says He Assaulted Her Decades Ago". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 4, 2020. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  112. ^ "After Ford's testimony, Sen. Graham says he feels 'ambushed'". ABC News. Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
  113. ^ "Lindsey Graham erupts during Kavanaugh hearing". CNN. October 1, 2018. Archived from the original on October 3, 2018. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  114. ^ Sullivan, Sean; Kim, Seung Min (September 20, 2020). "Graham — an institutionalist turned Trump loyalist — will play a central role in Supreme Court battle". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  115. ^ Axelrod, Tal (September 19, 2020). "Graham signals support for confirming a Supreme Court nominee this year". The Hill. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  116. ^ Axelrod, Tal (May 16, 2020). "Graham on potential Supreme Court vacancy: 'This would be a different circumstance' than Merrick Garland". The Hill. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  117. ^ Kapur, Sahil (August 3, 2020). "Democrats warn GOP: Don't fill a Supreme Court vacancy in 2020". NBC News. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  118. ^ a b Edmondson, Catie (September 21, 2020). "'You Would Do the Same': Graham Is Defiant on Supreme Court Reversal". The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 23, 2020. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  119. ^ Fortier-Benson, Tony (September 19, 2020). "Sen. Lindsey Graham says he will support Trump's SCOTUS pick for two reasons". WLOS. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  120. ^ Baker, Peter; Haberman, Maggie (September 19, 2020). "Trump Presses for New Justice 'Without Delay' as Election-Season Battle Looms". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  121. ^ Mataconis, Doug (April 3, 2011). "Lindsey Graham On Koran Burning: "Freedom Of Speech Is A Great Idea But We're In A War."". Outside the Beltway. Archived from the original on January 11, 2018. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  122. ^ a b Greenwald, Glenn (April 4, 2011). "The most uncounted cost of Endless War". Salon. Archived from the original on September 4, 2011. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  123. ^ Sullivan, Andrew (April 3, 2011). "Free Speech Is A Great Idea, But ..." The Atlantic. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  124. ^ Hunter, Jack (April 7, 2011). "Lindsey Graham's War on Freedom". The American Conservative. Archived from the original on April 10, 2011.
  125. ^ Gerhardt, Michael; Painter, Richard (2012). ""Extraordinary Circumstances": The Legacy of theGang of 14 and a Proposal for Judicial NominationsReform". University of Richmond Law Review. 46 (969): 969. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
  126. ^ "Senators compromise on filibusters". CNN. May 24, 2005. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
  127. ^ Kopan, Tal (June 6, 2013). "Lindsey Graham 'glad' NSA tracking phones". Politico. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved November 1, 2014.
  128. ^ McLaughlin, Seth (June 6, 2013). "GOP Sen. Graham says he's 'glad' NSA is collecting phone records". The Washington Times. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved November 1, 2014.
  129. ^ S. 1372 at Congress.gov. S. 1372 Archived January 7, 2021, at the Wayback Machine at GovTrack. S. 1372 Archived December 3, 2013, at the Wayback Machine at OpenCongress.
  130. ^ Zengerle, Patricia (July 25, 2013). "U.S. lawmakers want sanctions on any country taking in Snowden". Reuters. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  131. ^ "U.S. Senate advances law pressuring Russia not to give Snowden asylum". Xinhua. July 26, 2013. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved February 10, 2014.
  132. ^ "FY14 Full Committee Markup of State-Foreign Operations, and Financial Services General Government Bills" (Podcast). United States Senate Committee on Appropriations. July 25, 2013. Event occurs at 1:10:08.
  133. ^ Lewis, Neil A. (July 28, 2005). "Military's Opposition to Harsh Interrogation Is Outlined". The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 19, 2006. Retrieved September 30, 2006.
  134. ^ Savage, Charlie (December 1, 2011). "Senate Declines to Clarify Rights of American Qaeda Suspects Arrested in U.S." The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 28, 2019. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  135. ^ S8859 Archived November 17, 2020, at the Wayback Machine, The Graham Amendment
  136. ^ "ACLU Urges Congress to Reject Court Stripping Measure; Proposal Denies Detainees the Right to Challenge the Use of Torture". aclu.org. American Civil Liberties Union. November 10, 2005. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  137. ^ Brecher, Jeremy; Smith, Brendan (November 14, 2005). "Right To Trial Imperiled by Senate Vote". The Nation. Archived from the original on May 12, 2017. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  138. ^ FRONTLINE Interview: Rumsfeld's War Archived November 17, 2020, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 10, 2009.
  139. ^ FRONTLINE Interview: The Choice 2008 Archived November 16, 2018, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 10, 2009.
  140. ^ Bazelon, Emily (March 27, 2006). "Invisible Men: Did Lindsey Graham and Jon Kyl mislead the Supreme Court?". Slate. Archived from the original on August 11, 2011. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  141. ^ "I Just Saw This on CNN.com: Sen. Graham on Gitmo detainees". CNN. Archived from the original on October 15, 2014. Retrieved May 7, 2010.
  142. ^ "Kennedy alliance costly to GOP senators". The Washington Times. June 8, 2007. Archived from the original on March 8, 2008. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  143. ^ Blake, Aaron (June 22, 2007). "Immigration stance hurts Graham at home, poll finds". The Hill. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  144. ^ Blake, Aaron (November 14, 2007). "RNC official inches toward Graham battle". The Hill. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  145. ^ "Graham romps to easy win over challenger Witherspoon". The State. June 11, 2008.[permanent dead link]
  146. ^ Schumer, Chuck; Graham, Lindsey (March 19, 2010). "The right way to mend immigration". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on January 7, 2021. Retrieved October 11, 2014.
  147. ^ a b "Sens. Chuck Schumer and Lindsey Graham give bipartisan push to immigration reform plan". New York Daily News. Associated Press. November 11, 2012. Archived from the original on January 7, 2021. Retrieved October 11, 2014.
  148. ^ Siegel, Elyse (July 29, 2010). "Lindsey Graham: 'Birthright Citizenship Is A Mistake,' 'We Should Change Constitution'". The Huffington Post. Archived from the original on January 7, 2021. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  149. ^ Victoria Carty; Tekle Woldemikael; Rafael Luévano (May 23, 2014). Scholars and Southern Californian Immigrants in Dialogue: New Conversations in Public Sociology. Lexington Books. p. 75. ISBN 9780739176184. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  150. ^ "Senators Reach a Bipartisan Agreement for Comprehensive Immigration Reform". The National Law Review. Fowler White Boggs P.A. January 31, 2013. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved February 1, 2013.
  151. ^ Isenstadt, Alex (June 23, 2013). "Graham: We're close to 70 votes on immigration reform". Politico. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  152. ^ Alvarez, Priscilla (May 15, 2019). "Graham introduces bill that would change asylum process and try to slow flow of migrants". CNN. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved July 13, 2019.
  153. ^ Pengelly, Martin (July 14, 2019). "Trump claims migrant detention center visited by Pence was 'clean but crowded'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  154. ^ Jones, Rhett (May 16, 2018). "Here's the Name of Every Senator Who Voted Against Net Neutrality—and When to Vote Them Out". Gizmodo. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
  155. ^ "Roll Call Votes 115th Congress - 1st Session: On the Joint Resolution (S.J. Res. 34 )". senate.gov. United States Senate. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
  156. ^ "What They Are Saying: Advocacy Groups & Survivors Voice Support for the EARN IT Act". Senator Richard Blumenthal. February 8, 2022. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  157. ^ "S.3538 - EARN IT Act of 2022". Congress.gov. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  158. ^ "Graham won't join gun legislation filibuster". CNN. March 31, 2013. Archived from the original on April 4, 2013. Retrieved November 1, 2014.
  159. ^ Freedman, Dan (March 30, 2013). "Why NRA says background checks lead to confiscation". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved November 1, 2014.
  160. ^ "Senator Lindsey Graham Calls Current Gun Laws "Broken"". WSAV3. Archived from the original on November 2, 2014. Retrieved November 1, 2014.
  161. ^ Wallace, Gregory (March 6, 2013). "Graham introduces background check bill with NRA backing". CNN. Archived from the original on March 8, 2013. Retrieved November 1, 2014.
  162. ^ Bash, Dana; Raju, Manu; Judd, Donald (June 12, 2022). "Bipartisan group of senators announces agreement on gun control". CNN. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  163. ^ "Roll Call Vote 111th Congress - 1st Session: On Passage of the Bill (H.R. 3590 as Amended)". senate.gov. United States Senate. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  164. ^ "Roll Call Vote 111th Congress - 2nd Session Roll Call Vote: On Passage of the Bill (H.R. 4872 As Amended)". senate.gov. United States Senate. Archived from the original on August 4, 2010. Retrieved August 29, 2010.
  165. ^ Kliff, Sarah (September 18, 2017). "How Cassidy-Graham brings back preexisting conditions". Vox. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  166. ^ Bash, Dana (February 4, 2015). "Graham rebukes Paul on vaccines". CNN. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  167. ^ "H.R.36 - Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act". congress.gov. October 4, 2017. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved November 17, 2019.
  168. ^ Hains, Tim (July 1, 2018). "Lindsey Graham on Roe v. Wade: "You Don't Overturn Precedent Unless There's A Good Reason"". RealClearPolitics. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
  169. ^ Stolberg, Sheryl Gay (January 2, 2020). "More Than 200 Republicans Urge Supreme Court to Weigh Overturning Roe v. Wade". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
  170. ^ Segers, Grace (January 2, 2020). "Republican senators and congressmen ask Supreme Court to consider overturning Roe v. Wade". CBS News. Archived from the original on January 2, 2020. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
  171. ^ Hurley, Lawrence; Chung, Andrew; Brice, Makini (May 4, 2022). "Biden blasts 'radical' draft U.S. Supreme Court ruling overturning abortion rights". Reuters. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
  172. ^ Karni, Annie (September 13, 2022). "Graham Proposes 15-Week Abortion Ban, Seeking to Unite Republicans". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
  173. ^ Saric, Ivana (September 7, 2022). "Lindsey Graham says let states decide on same-sex marriage". Axios. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
  174. ^ Bowden, John (September 21, 2022). "Lindsey Graham taunted for making complete U-turn on whether states should decide abortion rights". The Independent. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
  175. ^ "Sen. Graham introduces bill to ban abortion nationwide at 15 weeks". NBC News. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
  176. ^ Weixel, Nathaniel (September 20, 2022). "Graham: Abortion 'not a states' rights issue'". The Hill. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
  177. ^ "Graham Introduces Legislation to Protect Unborn Children, Bring U.S. Abortion Policy in Line with Other Developed Nations". United States Senator Lindsey Graham. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  178. ^ "104th Congress / House / 2nd session / Vote 300". The Washington Post. The U.S. Congress Votes Database. July 11, 1996. Archived from the original on October 15, 2008. Retrieved July 20, 2009.
  179. ^ Garver, Rob (July 24, 2022). "Same-Sex Marriage Bill Advances in US Congress". Voice of America. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  180. ^ "CNN asked all 50 GOP senators if they will support the same-sex marriage bill. Here's where they stand". CNN. July 21, 2022. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  181. ^ Hickman, Wes; Bishop, Kevin. "Graham Supports Constitutional Amendment Protecting Traditional Marriage". lgraham.senate.gov. Office of Senator Lindsey Graham. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  182. ^ "The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  183. ^ Saric, Ivana (August 7, 2022). "Lindsey Graham says let states decide on same-sex marriage". Axios. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  184. ^ Tankersley, Jim; Simon, Richard (April 28, 2010). "Sen. Lindsey Graham's bipartisan efforts bog down". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved October 11, 2014.
  185. ^ "Kerry-Lieberman-Graham Reveal Their Climate Plan". greenenergyreporter.com. December 10, 2009. Archived from the original on March 8, 2010. Retrieved April 14, 2010., Green Energy Reporter
  186. ^ Samuelsohn, Darren (January 27, 2010). "Got Ideas About a Climate Bill? Kerry, Graham and Lieberman Want to Hear From You". Energy & Environment. The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved July 20, 2019.
  187. ^ a b Broder, John M. (April 24, 2010). "Graham Pulls Support for Major Senate Climate Bill". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  188. ^ Sheppard, Kate (June 9, 2010). "Lindsey Graham Said What About Climate Change?". Mother Jones. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved July 20, 2019.
  189. ^ Weaver, Dustin (January 21, 2015). "Senate votes that climate change is real". The Hill. Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved May 3, 2019.
  190. ^ "Feeling the Heat". October 14, 2020. Archived from the original on January 7, 2021. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  191. ^ Budryk, Zach (November 2, 2023). "Republican bill would impose fee on imports from foreign polluters". The Hill. Nexstar Media Group. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  192. ^ Siegel, Josh (November 2, 2023). "Senate Republicans introduce a climate bill — aimed at China". Politico. Axel Springer SE. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  193. ^ "Senate – November 2, 2023" (PDF). Congressional Record. U.S. Government Printing Office. 169 (181): S5338. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  194. ^ Hayes, Stephen F. (October 13, 2014). "The Return of the GOP Hawks". The Weekly Standard. Retrieved October 9, 2014.
  195. ^ "H.J.Res. 114 (107th): Authorization for Use of Military Force Against ... -- House Vote #455 -- Oct 10, 2002". GovTrack. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  196. ^ Hickman, Wes; Bishop, Kevin (March 19, 2003). "Statement from Lindsey Graham on War with Iraq". lgraham.senate.gov. Office of United States Senator Lindsey Graham. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  197. ^ Steinhauer, Jennifer (November 26, 2012). "Foreign Policy's Bipartisan Trio Becomes Republican Duo". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  198. ^ Helderman, Rosalind S. (November 30, 2012). "Sen. Ayotte offers GOP an influential new voice". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  199. ^ Trinko, Katrina (November 29, 2012). "Ayotte and the Amigos". National Review. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  200. ^ Schweitzer, Sarah (July 31, 2014). "In the right place at the right time". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  201. ^ Surprise Party, The Atlantic, Joshua Greene, January/February 2007. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  202. ^ Larotonda, Matthew (January 6, 2013). "Obama Will Nominate Chuck Hagel as Next Defense Secretary". ABC News. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
  203. ^ "Awesome". Senators on Automatic Spending Cuts Feb 28, 2013. C-SPAN. February 28, 2013. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved March 4, 2013.
  204. ^ Herb, Jeremy (February 28, 2013). "OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: Senate bills fail on sequester's eve". The Hill. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved March 4, 2013.
  205. ^ Friedman, Dan (February 28, 2013). "Capitol Hill lawmakers still show no desire to compromise to lessen economic impact of $85 billion in automatic spending cuts, set to hit books March 1". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on June 17, 2013. Retrieved March 4, 2013.
  206. ^ Rowland, Kara (February 28, 2013). "Senator Lindsey Graham blasts fellow Republicans and President Obama". Fox News. Archived from the original on April 26, 2015. Retrieved March 4, 2013.
  207. ^ "Senator wants Karzai to address corruption, U.S. to set up air base". Pajhwok Afghan News. January 3, 2011. Archived from the original on March 13, 2012. Retrieved January 18, 2011.
  208. ^ "US presence fueling insecurity in region: Iran". Pajhwok Afghan News. March 8, 2011. Archived from the original on January 21, 2020. Retrieved March 8, 2011.
  209. ^ Cagnassola, Mary Ellen (April 16, 2021). "Lindsey Graham blames Biden team for ISIS rise, says Afghanistan troop pullout puts U.S. in danger". Newsweek. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
  210. ^ Robertson, Nic (June 24, 2021). "Afghanistan is disintegrating fast as Biden's troop withdrawal continues". CNN.
  211. ^ "Graham calls Biden's Afghanistan decision a 'disaster in the making'". The Hill. July 8, 2021.
  212. ^ Wightman, Ken (November 7, 2010). "Lindsey Graham argues military action against Iran possible". digitaljournal.com. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  213. ^ "Graham: Iraq may "go to hell" without US troops". CBS News. April 3, 2011. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  214. ^ a b Esfandiari, Golnaz (October 18, 2018). "Iranian-Americans Call Out U.S. Senator Graham For 'Terrible' Ancestry Gaffe". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  215. ^ a b Anapol, Avery (October 17, 2018). "Iranian-American group calls on Graham to apologize for 'disgusting' DNA remark". The Hill. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  216. ^ O'Brien, Sara Ashley (October 17, 2018). "Tech execs want Senator Graham to apologize over Iranian remark". CNN. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  217. ^ Nazzaro, Miranda (October 9, 2023). "Graham: US should threaten Iranian oil infrastructure". The Hill. Archived from the original on October 14, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  218. ^ "US and Israel should bomb Iran: Senator Lindsey Graham". Middle East Monitor. October 12, 2023. Archived from the original on October 14, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  219. ^ Memmott, Mark (December 22, 2010). "Senate Ratifies START". NPR. Archived from the original on March 31, 2015. Retrieved December 22, 2010.
  220. ^ Baker, Peter (December 22, 2010). "Senate Passes Arms Control Treaty With Russia, 71-26". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 29, 2016. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  221. ^ Hunt, Kasie; O'Donnell, Kelly (July 17, 2013). "Graham: US should consider Olympic boycott over possible Snowden asylum". NBC News. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  222. ^ Chappell, Bill (March 4, 2022). "Sen. Lindsey Graham's apparent call for Putin to be assassinated draws backlash". NPR. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  223. ^ "Russia issues arrest warrant for Lindsey Graham over Ukraine comments". AP News. May 29, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  224. ^ "Russia issues arrest warrant for Lindsey Graham over comments on war in Ukraine". PBS NewsHour. May 29, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  225. ^ Roulette, Joey; Faulconbridge, Guy (May 28, 2023). "Dismissing Russian criticism, U.S. Senator Graham praises Ukrainian resistance". Reuters. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  226. ^ Faulconbridge, Guy (May 29, 2023). "Russia puts U.S. Senator Graham on wanted list - Russian media". Reuters. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  227. ^ "Russia issues arrest warrant for Lindsey Graham over Ukraine comments". AP NEWS. May 29, 2023. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  228. ^ "Lindsey Graham: Russia issues arrest warrant for top Republican". BBC News. May 29, 2023. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  229. ^ Serwer, Adam (August 22, 2011). "The right's bizarre response to Libya events". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  230. ^ Edwards, Breanna (January 29, 2013). "Lindsey Graham: 'Hillary Clinton got away with murder'". Politico. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  231. ^ "Sen Graham: Benghazi Report is "full of crap"". CNN. November 23, 2014. Archived from the original on November 26, 2014. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  232. ^ Klimas, Jacqueline (November 23, 2014). "Lindsey Graham: House Benghazi report is 'full of crap'". The Washington Times. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  233. ^ Miller, Jake (November 23, 2014). "Lindsey Graham: House Benghazi report "full of crap"". CBS News. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  234. ^ Kheel, Rebecca (December 23, 2016). "Obama faces widespread backlash after abstaining from UN Israel vote". The Hill. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
  235. ^ "Trump ally Graham says he'll lobby White House for Golan recognition". Times of Israel. March 11, 2019. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
  236. ^ "Sen. Lindsey Graham to host roundtable discussion on Israel-Hamas war". WCIV. October 12, 2023.
  237. ^ "US right heats up inflammatory rhetoric on Palestine as Muslim groups worry". The Guardian. October 19, 2023.
  238. ^ "Graham says 'no limit' of Palestinian deaths would make him question Israel". The Hill. November 1, 2023.
  239. ^ "Lindsey Graham says there is 'no limit' to the number of civilians it's justifiable for Israel to kill in its war on Hamas". Business Insider. November 1, 2023.
  240. ^ Kleefeld, Eric (May 26, 2019). "Lindsey Graham proposes invading Venezuela to oust Maduro". Vox. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
  241. ^ Woodruff, Betsy (October 23, 2017). "Senators Stunned to Discover We Have 1,000 Troops in Niger". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved October 27, 2017.
  242. ^ Bearak, Max (October 23, 2017). "Analysis | Parts of Niger and Mali are already lawless. U.S. strategy might make it worse". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved October 27, 2017.
  243. ^ "US Senators Graham and Shaheen visit flashpoint town Manbij". Arab News. July 2, 2018. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  244. ^ Pecqet, Julian (March 27, 2015). "Saudi Arabia Gets Bipartisan Backing for Yemen Airstrikes". U.S. News & World Report. Archived from the original on March 28, 2015.
  245. ^ "US-Saudi relations are imperiled by journalist Jamal Khashoggi's disappearance". CNBC. October 12, 2018. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  246. ^ Carney, Jordain (June 20, 2019). "Senate votes to block Trump's Saudi arms sale". The Hill. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  247. ^ "Media Calls Out Trump For Sending Troops to Saudi Arabia". Mediaite. October 11, 2019. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  248. ^ "Lindsey Graham on Twitter: "A major step forward in normalizing the Mideast and replacing policies of the past with opportunities for the future. I appreciate the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for making this important change. It will not go unnoticed in Washington and throughout capitals around the world."". twitter.com. Archived from the original on September 2, 2020. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  249. ^ Haltiwanger, John. "Lindsey Graham says Congress will call for Turkey to be suspended from NATO and hit it with sanctions if it attacks Kurds". Business Insider. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
  250. ^ Carney, Jordain (November 13, 2019). "Graham blocks resolution recognizing Armenian genocide after Erdoğan meeting". The Hill. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  251. ^ Tsirkin, Julie; Gregorian, Dareh (December 12, 2019). "Senate passes resolution recognizing Armenian genocide". NBC News. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  252. ^ a b c Fandos, Nicholas; Rosenberg, Matthew (2018). "Republican Senators Recommend Charges Against Author of Trump Dossier". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on January 5, 2018. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  253. ^ Carney, Jordain (April 11, 2018). "Senators to introduce new bipartisan bill to protect Mueller". The Hill. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  254. ^ Conradis, Brandon (March 14, 2019). "Graham blocks resolution calling for Mueller report to be made public". The Hill. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
  255. ^ "Graham: "Mueller Report In Name Only," Special Counsel Was In A "Weakened State"". Fox News. July 25, 2019. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  256. ^ Creitz, Charles (June 25, 2019). "Lindsey Graham: Mueller's agreement to testify before Congress will 'blow up' in Democrats' faces". Fox News. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  257. ^ Karl, J.; et al. "Top conservative says read my lips: Don't sign 'no new tax' pledge" Spinners and Winners, ABC News, June 12, 2012.
  258. ^ "Free Trade, Free Markets: Rating the Congress". Cato Institute. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
  259. ^ "Free Trade, Free Markets: Rating the Congress". Cato Institute. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
  260. ^ Byrnes, Jesse (June 19, 2015). "Lindsey Graham defends Confederate flag: 'It works here'". The Hill. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
  261. ^ Castillo, Walbert (June 20, 2015). "Lindsey Graham on Charleston shooter: 'It's him ... not the flag'". CNN. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
  262. ^ Drucker, David M. (June 20, 2015). "Lindsey Graham: 'No doubt' Charleston shooting was racially motivated". Washington Examiner. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved June 21, 2015.
  263. ^ Folley, Aris (June 1, 2023). "Here are the senators who voted against the bill to raise the debt ceiling". The Hill. Archived from the original on June 18, 2023. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  264. ^ a b c d Kropf, Schuyler; Dumain, Emma (November 5, 2016). "PALMETTO POLITICS: U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham named in Boston law firm donation exposé". The Post and Courier. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved September 18, 2017.
  265. ^ Stolberg, Sheryl Gay (November 21, 2005). "In the Senate, a Chorus of Three Defies the Line". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
  266. ^ Boxer, Sarah B. (April 10, 2012). "Romney racks up more endorsements as Santorum exits". CBS News. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved October 9, 2014.
  267. ^ Dana Bash (February 18, 2012). "Where is all the support for Santorum in the Senate?". CNN. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved October 9, 2014.
  268. ^ Boxer, Sarah B. (April 10, 2012). "Floodgates open on Romney endorsements". The Hill. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved October 9, 2014.
  269. ^ Topaz, Jonathan (October 3, 2014). "Lindsey Graham: Marco Rubio 'not quite ready'". Politico. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved October 3, 2014.
  270. ^ Noyes, Ron (March 11, 2015). "As POTUS, Sen. Graham Vows U.S. Military Force Against Non-Compliant Congress". benswann.com. Ben Swann. Archived from the original on April 13, 2015. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
  271. ^ Schwarz, Hunter (April 19, 2015). "Lindsey Graham says He's '91 percent' Sure He'll Run for President". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  272. ^ Stableford, Dylan (May 18, 2015). "Lindsey Graham: 'I am running because the world is falling apart'". Yahoo! News. Retrieved May 18, 2015.
  273. ^ Rappeport, Alan (June 1, 2015). "Lindsey Graham Announces Presidential Bid". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  274. ^ Killough, Ashley; Wright, David (January 15, 2016). "Lindsey Graham endorses Jeb Bush". CNN. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved January 15, 2016.
  275. ^ Bash, Dana (May 6, 2016). "Lindsey Graham won't vote for Trump or Clinton in 2016". CNN. Archived from the original on May 9, 2016. Retrieved May 7, 2016.
  276. ^ Wang, Amy B (November 8, 2017). "Sen. Lindsey Graham: 'I voted Evan McMullin for president'". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on August 8, 2017. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  277. ^ a b "Election Statistics". Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives. Archived from the original on July 30, 2008. Retrieved August 8, 2007.
  278. ^ "2008 Republican Party Primary Election Results". enr.scvotes.org. South Carolina State Election Commission. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  279. ^ "2014 Republican Party Primary Election Results". enr.scvotes.org. South Carolina State Election Commission. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  280. ^ "2020 Republican Party Primary Election Results". enr.scvotes.org. South Carolina State Election Commission. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  281. ^ Self, Jamie (May 20, 2014). "Lindsey Graham's sister discusses childhood, losing parents in senator's new campaign ads". The State. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved January 16, 2016.
  282. ^ Rappeport, Alan (June 1, 2015). "Lindsey Graham Enters White House Race With Emphasis on National Security". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 17, 2020. Retrieved July 20, 2019.
  283. ^ "Lindsey Graham Memoir, My Story, Explains Why He Never Married". Peoplemag.
  284. ^ "Lindsey Graham Says 'I'm Not Gay' After Chelsea Handler Trolls Him on National Coming Out Day". Peoplemag.

Further reading

External links

South Carolina House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives
from the 2nd district

1993–1995
Succeeded by
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from South Carolina's 3rd congressional district

1995–2003
Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by
Strom Thurmond
Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from South Carolina
(Class 2)

2002, 2008, 2014, 2020
Most recent
U.S. Senate
Preceded by U.S. Senator (Class 2) from South Carolina
2003–present
Served alongside: Ernest Hollings, Jim DeMint, Tim Scott
Incumbent
Preceded by Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee
2019–2021
Succeeded by
Preceded by Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee
2021–2023
Succeeded by
Preceded by Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee
2023–present
Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by Order of precedence of the United States
as United States Senator
Succeeded by
United States senators by seniority
15th
Succeeded by