Major Controversies Surrounding Lindsey Graham: A Detailed Timeline

Public opinion and media debates around Lindsey Graham—discover key moments of controversy.

Lindsey Graham is an American politician and attorney, currently serving as a senior United States Senator for South Carolina since 2003. Affiliated with the Republican Party, he previously held the position of Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary from 2019 to 2021. Graham's career is primarily defined by his long tenure in the Senate and leadership roles within the Republican party.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

November 1997: Co-sponsored Impeachment Resolution

In November 1997, Graham co-sponsored a resolution by Bob Barr to launch an impeachment inquiry into President Bill Clinton.

October 8, 1998: Voted to Open Impeachment Inquiry

On October 8, 1998, Graham voted in favor of legislation to open an impeachment inquiry against President Bill Clinton.

1998: Controversy Over Military Record

In 1998, The Hill newspaper reported Graham's website described himself as an Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm veteran, which Graham denied, clarifying he was not a combatant or war hero and never deployed.

1998: Graham's statements during the impeachment of Bill Clinton

In December 2019, Democrats referenced statements Lindsey Graham made during the 1998 impeachment of Bill Clinton regarding presidential subpoenas and impeachment.

November 2005: Graham amendment on detainee rights passed

In November 2005, Graham's amendment to a Department of Defense Authorization Act, attempting to clarify the authority of American courts regarding detainee rights, passed in the Senate despite opposition.

2006: Graham supported a constitutional amendment opposing same-sex marriage

In 2006, Graham voted in favor of a constitutional amendment that would define marriage as between one man and one woman. He stated the amendment was necessary to protect traditional marriage and prevent judges from creating a constitutional right to same-sex marriage.

2006: Court Ruling Set Aside

In 2006, the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces set aside a lower court's ruling that Graham could serve as a military judge, concluding it was improper for Graham to serve as a military judge.

May 2009: Graham suggests internment as model for Guantanamo detainees

In May 2009, during a CNN interview, Graham cited the domestic internment of German and Japanese prisoners of war and U.S. Citizens during World War II as a model for domestic detention of Guantanamo detainees.

December 10, 2009: Graham co-sponsored letter committing to climate change bill, then withdrew support

On December 10, 2009, Graham, along with senators John Kerry and Joe Lieberman, co-sponsored a letter to President Obama committing to passing a climate change bill. However, Graham later withdrew his support due to disagreements over the handling of immigration issues, casting doubt on the bill's passage.

June 2010: Graham questions global warming science

In June 2010, Graham stated that the science about global warming had changed and that he believed it had been oversold, adding that he planned to vote against the climate bill he had previously co-sponsored.

July 2010: Graham suggests amending birthright citizenship

In July 2010, Graham suggested amending the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution regarding birthright citizenship, proposing that children born to illegal immigrants in the United States should be considered illegal immigrants.

2010: Campaign Contributions from Thornton Law Firm

Between 2010 and 2014, partners and one of their wives from the Thornton Law Firm contributed $1.6 million to politicians, with $1.4 million being reimbursed to the partners from the firm.

April 3, 2011: Graham suggests action against Koran-burning

On April 3, 2011, during an appearance on Face the Nation, Graham suggested that Congress should take formal action against the Koran-burning by Florida preacher Terry Jones, arguing for potential limits on freedom of speech in wartime.

January 29, 2013: Graham said Clinton 'got away with murder' after Benghazi testimony

On January 29, 2013, Graham stated that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton "got away with murder" after her testimony about the 2012 Benghazi attack.

2013: Graham supports NSA phone record collection

In 2013, in response to the disclosures about the NSA's global surveillance, Graham voiced his support for the NSA collecting phone records, stating he was a Verizon customer and didn't mind Verizon turning over his records to the government to match terrorist phones.

2014: Campaign Contributions from Thornton Law Firm

Between 2010 and 2014, partners and one of their wives from the Thornton Law Firm contributed $1.6 million to politicians, with $1.4 million being reimbursed to the partners from the firm.

June 17, 2015: Response to Charleston Church Shooting

Following the mass shooting at an African American church in Charleston on June 17, 2015, Lindsey Graham canceled campaign events to return to South Carolina. He addressed the controversy surrounding the Confederate flag, suggesting it was time for South Carolina to revisit its presence on the State Capitol grounds. He also attributed the shooting to the individual's actions, rather than external influences like books, movies, or symbols.

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July 2015: Called Trump a "jackass"

In July 2015, Graham, as a presidential candidate, called Donald Trump a "jackass" for his comments about Senator John McCain, leading Trump to call Graham an "idiot" and reveal his personal cellphone number.

December 2015: Graham Criticizes Trump

In December 2015, Graham criticized Donald Trump's call for a ban on Muslims entering the United States, calling him a "race-baiting, xenophobic, religious bigot".

2015: Graham and Trump conflict

In 2015, Lindsey Graham had a conflict with Donald Trump, referenced when Graham gave Trump his new phone number in March 2017.

February 2016: Graham Called Trump a 'Kook'

In February 2016, Lindsey Graham described Donald Trump as a 'kook,' 'crazy,' and 'unfit for office'.

May 2016: Tweeted About Trump

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

May 2016: Opposition to Donald Trump's Candidacy

In May 2016, after it appeared certain that Donald Trump would become the Republican nominee, Lindsey Graham announced that he would not vote for Trump or Hillary Clinton.

June 2016: Criticized Trump's Comments

In June 2016, Graham criticized Trump's comments about a judge of Mexican heritage and told The New York Times that that incident "is probably it" for anyone looking to withdraw their support of Trump.

2016: Report on Campaign Contributions from Thornton Law Firm

In 2016, The Boston Globe reported that Lindsey Graham was "the only Republican recipient of money from a major Democratic donor now facing scrutiny for some questionable campaign donation habits," referring to the Thornton Law Firm. The firm was known for asbestos-related litigation, and Graham received $62,800 in campaign contributions from the firm's partners over a ten-year period.

2016: Russian Interference in the election

In 2016, the investigation into Russian interference in the election began.

2016: Critic of Donald Trump

Throughout 2016, Graham was an outspoken critic of Donald Trump's presidential candidacy, disagreeing with Trump's comments on John McCain.

March 2017: Graham votes for Broadband Consumer Privacy Proposal

In March 2017, Graham voted for the Broadband Consumer Privacy Proposal, which removed the FCC's internet privacy rules and allowed internet service providers to sell customers' browsing history without permission.

October 2017: Remarks on U.S. Military Presence in Niger After Tongo Tongo Ambush

In October 2017, following the Tongo Tongo ambush that resulted in the deaths of four U.S. soldiers, Lindsey Graham expressed surprise at the extent of U.S. troop presence in Niger, stating, "I didn't know there was a thousand troops in Niger." He later advocated for an expanded U.S. military role in Africa, indicating more frequent actions and increased aggression towards enemies, with decisions potentially being made in the field.

November 2017: Graham Criticized Media's Reporting on Trump

In November 2017, Lindsey Graham criticized the media's reporting on Donald Trump, stating his concern about the press's attempts to label Trump as unfit to be president.

January 2018: Congressional Criminal Referral in Russian Interference Investigation

In January 2018, Lindsey Graham, along with Chuck Grassley, recommended charges against ex-MI6 officer Christopher Steele, author of the Steele dossier, for allegedly lying to federal authorities. This was the first known congressional criminal referral in the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.

August 2018: Graham Denies Hearing Trump Make Racist Statements

In August 2018, The Washington Post reported Lindsey Graham's statement that he had never heard Donald Trump make a racist statement.

2018: Graham responds to Christine Blasey Ford's allegations

In 2018, during Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court confirmation hearings, Lindsey Graham strongly opposed delaying the process due to Christine Blasey Ford's sexual assault allegations. After Ford testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Graham stated he was unmoved by her testimony, doubting her account that Kavanaugh assaulted her.

May 14, 2019: Graham Encourages Donald Trump Jr. to Ignore Subpoena

On May 14, 2019, Lindsey Graham faced scrutiny, including from Senator Joe Manchin, for encouraging Donald Trump Jr. to ignore a subpoena from the Senate Intelligence Committee.

June 2019: Vote to Block Trump's Saudi Arms Deal

In June 2019, Lindsey Graham was among a minority of Republicans who voted to block President Trump's Saudi arms deal, which aimed to provide weapons to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan. He also voted against an additional 20 arms sales.

July 2019: Graham visits migrant detention center

In July 2019, Graham visited a migrant detention center in Texas, reacting that it was "a facility overwhelmed" and stating he didn't care if migrants had to stay there for 400 days.

July 2019: Graham Defends Trump Against Racism Accusations

In July 2019, Lindsey Graham defended Donald Trump, stating he did not believe Trump was racist or that his statements regarding Democratic congresswomen were racist.

October 8, 2019: Graham Condemns Trump's Troop Withdrawal from Syria

On October 8, 2019, Lindsey Graham condemned Donald Trump's announcement of an intention to withdraw U.S. troops from northern Syria, stating it put the nation and his presidency at risk.

November 2019: Blocking of Senate Resolution on Armenian Genocide

In November 2019, Lindsey Graham blocked a Senate resolution aimed at officially recognizing the Armenian genocide.

December 2019: Graham Declares Impartiality in Trump Impeachment Trial

In December 2019, Lindsey Graham stated he had already made up his mind regarding the impeachment articles against Trump, expressing disdain for the accusations and process and a desire for a quick dismissal in the Senate.

September 2020: Graham supports immediate vote on Supreme Court nominee

In September 2020, following the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Graham expressed support for the Senate immediately voting on Trump's nominee, a stance the New York Times described as a reversal of his earlier position.

2020: Graham Challenges US election system

In 2020, 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".

2020: Graham calls Georgia Secretary of State

In 2020, Graham privately called the Georgia Secretary of State, Brad Raffensperger to discuss Georgia's vote counting.

2020: Graham Calls for Investigation of Voting Irregularities

In 2020, after receiving an affidavit by Pennsylvania postal worker Richard Hopkins alleging that his postmaster discussed backdating mail ballots, Lindsey 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.

January 6, 2021: Graham Speaks Out Against Delaying Election Results

On January 6, 2021, after the attack on the United States Capitol, Lindsey Graham spoke against delaying the election results, stating that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were lawfully elected and would become President and Vice President.

February 2021: Investigation into Graham's Phone Call

In February 2021, The Washington Post reported that Fani Willis, the Fulton County, Georgia district attorney, was examining Lindsey Graham's phone call to Brad Raffensperger as part of a criminal investigation into possible efforts to illegally overturn Georgia's election results.

May 28, 2021: Graham Votes Against January 6 Commission

On May 28, 2021, Lindsey Graham voted against creating the January 6 commission.

July 8, 2021: Graham called Biden's Afghanistan withdrawal a 'disaster in the making'

On July 8, 2021, Graham criticized Joe Biden's decision to withdraw all U.S. troops from Afghanistan, originally agreed to by the first Trump administration, calling it a "disaster in the making".

August 2021: Graham Calls Biden After Election

In August 2021, The New York Times reported that Lindsey Graham called Joe Biden after the election to revive their friendship and allegedly said he called for a special counsel investigation of Biden's son Hunter to appease Trump supporters.

March 3, 2022: Graham tweeted suggestion of Putin assassination

On March 3, 2022, in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Graham tweeted, suggesting that someone in Russia should assassinate Vladimir Putin, which drew condemnation.

September 2022: Graham introduces federal ban on abortion after 15 weeks

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, contradicting his prior stance on states' rights.

May 26, 2023: Ukraine released edited video of Graham's comments

On May 26, 2023, the Office of the President of Ukraine released an edited video showing Graham commenting on the deaths of Russians and the effectiveness of American military assistance to Ukraine, leading to criticism and the subsequent release of an unedited version.

May 29, 2023: Russia issued arrest warrant for Graham

On May 29, 2023, the Russian Interior Ministry issued an arrest warrant for Graham due to his comments about the war. Graham responded by stating the news brought him "immense joy".

April 2024: Graham Criticizes Trump on Abortion Ban

In April 2024, Lindsey Graham criticized Donald Trump for not supporting a federal abortion ban, leading Trump to express regret for endorsing Graham in his 2020 Senate campaign.

May 8, 2024: Graham compared the Gaza war to Hiroshima and Nagasaki

On May 8, 2024, Graham warned the Pentagon against halting arms supply to Israel, comparing the Gaza war to "Hiroshima and Nagasaki on steroids," causing debate in the Japanese National Diet.

May 2024: Graham on Accepting Election Results

In May 2024, Lindsey Graham said he would accept the results of the presidential election "if there's no massive cheating".

September 2024: Graham Lobbies for Winner-Take-All System in Nebraska

In September 2024, Lindsey Graham lobbied Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen to call a special session to adopt a winner-take-all system for Electoral College votes, but the move failed.

October 2024: Graham Criticizes Harris and Biden Immigration Policy

In October 2024, Lindsey Graham criticized Republican voters supporting Harris and argued that the Biden-Harris immigration policy was a larger danger than Trump's rhetoric.

January 2025: Graham Disagrees with Trump's Actions as President

In January 2025, Lindsey Graham disagreed with several of Donald Trump's first actions as president, including pardons for January 6 attack participants, the removal of security details for John Bolton and Mike Pompeo, and violating the law by not giving Congress 30 days' notice before firing 17 Inspectors General.

June 1, 2025: Graham commented on Greta Thunberg's trip to Gaza

On June 1, 2025, Graham wrote on X, "Hope Greta and her friends can swim!", in response to Greta Thunberg traveling on a ship bringing humanitarian aid to Gaza.

August 2025: Graham claimed Trump's tariffs pressured Putin

In late August 2025, Graham claimed that the Trump administration's 50% tariff on Indian imports of Russian oil played a key role in bringing Putin to the negotiating table. Economist Jeffrey Sachs criticized Graham and called him a "fool", arguing the tariffs had the opposite effect.

2025: Laura Loomer's Testimony Alleging Graham's Sexual Orientation

During a 2025 deposition, Laura Loomer testified under oath that Lindsey Graham was gay, stating that she had been told this information in confidence by members of President Trump's staff. Graham has denied these allegations.