Full History Of Lindsey Graham In Timeline From 1955

July 9, 1955: Lindsey Graham's Birth

On July 9, 1955, Lindsey Olin Graham was born.

Others born on this day/year

1966: Fritz Hollings became U.S. senator

In 1966, Fritz Hollings became South Carolina's U.S. senator.

1973: The United States handled the issue of abortion

The issue of abortion was handled in the United States until 1973.

1977: Graduated from University of South Carolina

In 1977, Lindsey Graham graduated from the University of South Carolina with a B.A. in psychology.

1981: Graduated from University of South Carolina School of Law

In 1981, Lindsey Graham graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Law with a J.D.

1982: Joined the U.S. Air Force

In 1982, Lindsey Graham joined the Judge Advocate General's Corps in the U.S. Air Force, serving as a defense attorney and chief prosecutor in Europe.

1982: Commissioned as Officer in JAG Corps

In 1982, Lindsey Graham was commissioned as an officer in the Judge Advocate General's Corps in the United States Air Force and began active duty.

1984: Lindsey Graham transferred to Rhein-Main Air Base

In 1984, Lindsey Graham was transferred to Rhein-Main Air Base in Frankfurt, Germany, where he served as the Air Force's chief prosecutor in Europe.

1984: Air Force Pilot Marijuana Case

In 1984, while defending an Air Force pilot accused of using marijuana, Lindsey Graham was featured in an episode of "60 Minutes" exposing the Air Force's defective drug-testing procedures.

1988: End of Air Force Duty in Europe

In 1988, Lindsey Graham finished his duty as chief prosecutor for the Air Force in Europe.

1988: Assistant County Attorney for Oconee County

In 1988, Lindsey Graham worked as assistant county attorney for Oconee County.

1989: Returned to South Carolina and Entered Private Practice

In 1989, Lindsey Graham returned to South Carolina, left active duty, and entered private practice as a lawyer.

1989: Joined South Carolina Air National Guard

In 1989, after leaving the Air Force, Lindsey Graham joined the South Carolina Air National Guard.

1990: Recalled to Active Duty for the Gulf War

During the 1990-1991 Gulf War, Lindsey Graham was recalled to active duty, serving as a judge advocate at McEntire Air National Guard Station in Eastover, South Carolina, helping brief departing pilots on the laws of war.

1990: City Attorney for Central

In 1990, Lindsey Graham worked as city attorney for Central.

1991: Recalled to Active Duty for the Gulf War

During the 1990-1991 Gulf War, Lindsey Graham was recalled to active duty, serving as a judge advocate at McEntire Air National Guard Station in Eastover, South Carolina, helping brief departing pilots on the laws of war.

1992: Assistant County Attorney for Oconee County

In 1992, Lindsey Graham ended his time as assistant county attorney for Oconee County.

1992: Elected to South Carolina House of Representatives

In 1992, Lindsey Graham was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives from the 2nd district, in Oconee County, defeating Democratic incumbent Lowell W. Ross.

1993: Began Term in South Carolina House of Representatives

In 1993, Lindsey Graham began his term in the South Carolina House of Representatives.

1994: City Attorney for Central

In 1994, Lindsey Graham ended his time as city attorney for Central.

1994: Elected to U.S. House of Representatives

In 1994, Lindsey Graham was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives for South Carolina's 3rd congressional district, succeeding Butler Derrick. He became the first Republican to represent the district since 1877.

1994: Write-in Votes Received

In 1994, write-in candidates collectively received 13 votes.

1995: Served in the U.S. House of Representatives

In 1995, Lindsey Graham began serving in the U.S. House of Representatives.

1995: End of Term in South Carolina House of Representatives

In 1995, Lindsey Graham concluded his term in the South Carolina House of Representatives.

1995: Joined U.S. Air Force Reserve

In 1995, Lindsey Graham left the South Carolina Air National Guard and joined the U.S. Air Force Reserve.

1996: Vote for Defense of Marriage Act

In 1996, Graham voted in favor of the Defense of Marriage Act, a federal law defining marriage as between one man and one woman and denying federal recognition to same-sex marriages.

1996: Reelected to U.S. House of Representatives

In 1996, Lindsey Graham was reelected to the U.S. House of Representatives, defeating Debbie Dorn.

November 1997: Co-sponsored Resolution to Impeach Bill Clinton

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

1997: Leadership Challenge Against Newt Gingrich

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

October 8, 1998: Voted in Favor of Impeachment Inquiry

On October 8, 1998, Lindsey Graham voted in favor of legislation to open an impeachment inquiry into President Bill Clinton. He also served as a House impeachment manager in the impeachment trial.

1998: Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel

In 1998, Lindsey Graham was promoted to lieutenant colonel.

1998: Reelected to U.S. House of Representatives

In 1998, Lindsey Graham was reelected to a third term in the U.S. House of Representatives unopposed.

1998: Controversy Over Military Record

In 1998, The Hill newspaper questioned Lindsey Graham's descriptions of his military service on his website, particularly concerning Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Graham clarified that he had never claimed to be a combatant or war hero.

1998: Graham's Stance During Clinton Impeachment

In December 2019, 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.

2000: Graham Supports John McCain for President

In 2000, Lindsey Graham supported John McCain's bid for president.

2000: Reelected to U.S. House of Representatives

In 2000, Lindsey Graham was reelected to a fourth term in the U.S. House of Representatives, defeating George Brightharp.

2000: Natural Law Candidate and Write-in Votes

In 2000, Natural Law candidate LeRoy J. Klein received 1,122 votes, and write-in candidates received 33 votes. George Brightharp received 2,253 votes running under both the Democratic and United Citizens Parties.

2002: Vote for Iraq Resolution

In 2002, Graham voted for the Iraq Resolution, which authorized military action against Iraq.

2002: Elected to U.S. Senate

In 2002, Lindsey Graham was elected to the U.S. Senate, succeeding Strom Thurmond, and became South Carolina's first new U.S. senator since Fritz Hollings in 1966.

2003: Became a U.S. Senator

In 2003, Lindsey Graham became the senior United States Senator from South Carolina, a position he has held since.

2003: Service in the U.S. House of Representatives Concluded

In 2003, Lindsey Graham's service in the U.S. House of Representatives came to an end.

2003: Concerns raised about Guantanamo Bay interrogations

In 2003, senior military lawyers raised concerns about the legality of the interrogations of prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay.

June 2004: Supreme Court decision allowing detainees to file habeas corpus petitions

In June 2004, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed detainees to file habeas corpus petitions to challenge their detentions.

2004: Promoted to Colonel

In 2004, Lindsey Graham was promoted to colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve at a White House ceremony officiated by President George W. Bush. A lower court also determined that Graham's service as a military judge while a sitting member of the Senate was acceptable.

May 23, 2005: Graham part of Gang of 14 senators forging compromise

On May 23, 2005, Lindsey Graham was one of the Gang of 14 senators who reached a compromise to halt the blockage of judicial nominees, negating both the Democrats' filibuster and the Republican "nuclear option".

July 2005: Graham secures declassification of Guantanamo Bay interrogation memos

In July 2005, Lindsey 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.

November 2005: Graham amendment passed limiting rights of detainees

In November 2005, an amendment authored by Lindsey Graham to a Department of Defense Authorization Act passed in the Senate, attempting to clarify the authority of American courts and limit the rights of detainees.

2005: Detainee Treatment Act of 2005

The Detainee Treatment Act of 2005 was mentioned in the amicus brief.

February 2006: Graham files amicus brief in Hamdan v. Rumsfeld case

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

2006: Support for Constitutional Amendment Opposing Same-Sex Marriage

In 2006, Graham supported a constitutional amendment against marriage between same-sex couples, affirming his belief in the traditional definition of marriage and aiming to prevent judges from establishing a constitutional right to same-sex marriage.

2006: Graham supports McCain-Kennedy Immigration Reform Bill

In 2006, Lindsey Graham was a supporter of S. 2611, the McCain-Kennedy Immigration Reform Bill.

2006: Court Ruling on Military Judge Service

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

2007: Served in Iraq as Reservist

In 2007, Lindsey Graham served in Iraq as a reservist on active duty for a short period in April and for two weeks in August, working on detainee and rule-of-law issues.

2007: Graham supports Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act

In 2007, Lindsey Graham supported S. 1348, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act.

2007: Influence on Bush's Surge Strategy in Iraq

In 2007, as part of "the three amigos" with John McCain and Joe Lieberman, Graham's influence reached its peak as President Bush advocated for his surge strategy in Iraq.

2008: Graham Co-Chairs McCain's Presidential Campaign

In 2008, Lindsey Graham served as the national co-chair of John McCain's presidential campaign.

2008: Re-elected to U.S. Senate

In 2008, Lindsey Graham was re-elected to the U.S. Senate, defeating Buddy Witherspoon in the Republican primary and Bob Conley in the general election.

2008: Graham wins Republican nomination

In 2008, Lindsey Graham won the Republican nomination, defeating a primary challenge from Buddy Witherspoon due to his positions on immigration.

2008: Russia's Invasion of Georgia

In 2008, Russia invaded Georgian land.

May 2009: Graham references domestic internment as a model for Guantanamo detainees

In a May 2009 CNN interview, Lindsey Graham referred to 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.

August 2009: Served in Afghanistan

During the August 2009 Senate recess, Lindsey Graham served in Afghanistan.

August 2009: Served as Senior Legal Advisor in Iraq and Afghanistan

From August 2009, Lindsey Graham served as a senior legal advisor to the Air Force in Iraq and Afghanistan.

December 10, 2009: Co-sponsorship of Climate Change Bill Letter

On December 10, 2009, Graham, along with 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.

December 2009: Graham votes against the Affordable Care Act

In December 2009, Lindsey Graham voted against the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).

June 2010: Remarks on Global Warming Science

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

July 2010: Graham suggests amending birthright citizenship

In July 2010, Lindsey Graham suggested that U.S. citizenship as a birthright guaranteed by the 14th Amendment should be amended, and that children born to illegal immigrants should be considered illegal immigrants.

November 6, 2010: Call for Preemptive Military Strike Against Iran

On November 6, 2010, Graham advocated for a preemptive military strike aimed at weakening the Iranian regime.

December 2010: Vote Against New START Treaty

In December 2010, Graham was among 26 senators who voted against the ratification of New START, a nuclear arms reduction treaty between the U.S. and Russia.

2010: Thornton Law Firm Partners Contributed to Politicians

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

2010: Graham votes against the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act

In 2010, Lindsey Graham voted against the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act.

2010: Graham works with Schumer on immigration reform

In early 2010, Lindsey Graham began working with Democratic New York senator Chuck Schumer on immigration reform, though the talks later broke down.

April 3, 2011: Graham suggests limiting freedom of speech regarding Koran-burning

On April 3, 2011, during an appearance on Face the Nation, Lindsey Graham suggested that Congress take action against the Koran-burning by Florida preacher Terry Jones, arguing for limiting some forms of freedom of speech in light of attacks on United Nations personnel.

August 2011: Co-sponsorship of Resolution on Russia's Invasion of Georgia

In August 2011, Graham co-sponsored a resolution asserting that Russia's 2008 invasion of Georgian land was an act of aggression.

2011: Support for Continuing U.S. Military Presence in Iraq

In 2011, Graham voiced his support for a continuing U.S. military presence in Iraq, warning of potential instability if the U.S. were to withdraw completely.

2011: Kelly Ayotte Joins the Senate

In 2011, Kelly Ayotte joined the Senate and was considered Lieberman's replacement in the group.

April 2012: Graham Endorses Mitt Romney After Santorum Withdraws

In April 2012, after Rick Santorum withdrew from the race, leaving Mitt Romney as the presumptive nominee, Lindsey Graham endorsed Romney for president.

June 2012: Graham Supports Closing Tax Loopholes Despite Taxpayer Protection Pledge

In June 2012, despite having signed Grover Norquist's Taxpayer Protection Pledge, Lindsey Graham publicly supported closing tax loopholes without corresponding decreases in other tax revenue, citing the country's debt crisis as a reason to compromise on ideological grounds.

November 2012: Graham and Schumer resume immigration reform talks

In November 2012, Lindsey Graham and Chuck Schumer resumed their talks on comprehensive immigration reform.

2012: Views on U.S. Troop Presence in Iraq

In 2012, Graham expressed concerns that without a continued U.S. military presence, Iraq could destabilize.

2012: Benghazi Attack

In 2012, the Benghazi attack occurred.

January 28, 2013: Graham announces principles for immigration reform

On January 28, 2013, Lindsey Graham was a member of a bipartisan group of eight senators that announced principles for comprehensive immigration reform.

January 29, 2013: Statement on Hillary Clinton and Benghazi Attack

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

February 2013: Improved Approval Rating

According to a February 2013 Winthrop poll, Lindsey Graham had a 59% positive rating among likely Republican voters.

February 28, 2013: Criticism of Budget Reduction

On February 28, 2013, Graham criticized Obama and both political parties for allowing budget reduction to occur with a large portion of the budget exempt, warning of a "hollow military".

March 2013: Graham introduces bill to flag people with insanity defenses attempting to buy guns

In March 2013, Lindsey Graham 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.

June 23, 2013: Graham says Senate close to 70 votes for reform package

On June 23, 2013, Lindsey Graham said that the Senate was close to obtaining 70 votes to pass the immigration reform package.

July 16, 2013: Suggestion of Boycott of Sochi Olympics

On July 16, 2013, Graham suggested that the United States should consider boycotting the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

July 25, 2013: Graham amendment on sanctions for Edward Snowden asylum

On July 25, 2013, the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations unanimously adopted an amendment by Lindsey Graham that sought sanctions against any country that offered asylum to former NSA contractor Edward Snowden.

2013: Graham mentions Democrats changed Senate rules

In 2013, Democrats had changed Senate rules to allow a simple majority vote for nominees to United States courts of appeals.

2013: Lieberman's Retirement

In 2013, Lieberman retired from the Senate.

2013: Graham supports NSA phone record collection

In 2013, in response to disclosures about the United States National Security Agency's global surveillance, Lindsey Graham said he was "glad" the NSA was collecting phone records, stating that he didn't mind Verizon turning over records to the government.

July 2014: Ended Service as Senior Legal Advisor in Iraq and Afghanistan

In July 2014, Lindsey Graham ended his service as a senior legal advisor to the Air Force in Iraq and Afghanistan.

October 2014: Graham Hints at Potential Presidential Run

In October 2014, during his Senate reelection campaign, Lindsey Graham suggested he might run for president if no one else addressed key issues.

2014: Thornton Law Firm Partners Contributed to Politicians

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

2014: Fiscal Year 2014 Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Bill

In 2014, Graham's amendment was related to the Fiscal Year 2014 Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Bill.

2014: Awarded Bronze Star Medal

In 2014, Lindsey Graham was awarded a Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service.

2014: Vulnerable to Primary Challenge

In 2014, Lindsey Graham was considered one of the most vulnerable Republican senators up for reelection to a primary challenge due to his low approval ratings and reputation for working with Democrats.

2014: Sochi Winter Olympics

In 2014, the Winter Olympics took place in Sochi, Russia.

March 7, 2015: Graham Advocates Reversal of Defense Spending Cuts

On March 7, 2015, at a "Politics and Pies" forum, Lindsey Graham advocated for reversing defense spending cuts and humorously suggested he would use the military to keep Congress in town until they addressed the issue if he were president.

March 2015: Graham Supports Saudi-led Intervention in Yemen

In March 2015, Lindsey Graham voiced his support for the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen, emphasizing the strategic partnership with Saudi Arabia and their shared opposition to Iran.

April 19, 2015: Graham Indicates He Is Likely to Run for President

On April 19, 2015, Lindsey Graham stated on Fox News Sunday that he was "91% sure" he would run for president and would do so if he could raise the necessary funds.

May 18, 2015: Graham Announces Presidential Run

On May 18, 2015, Lindsey Graham informally announced his candidacy for president on CBS This Morning, citing his belief that "the world is falling apart" as his motivation.

June 1, 2015: Graham Formally Announces Candidacy for President

On June 1, 2015, Lindsey Graham officially announced his candidacy for President of the United States.

June 17, 2015: Graham Responds to Charleston Church Shooting and Confederate Flag Debate

Following the Charleston church shooting on June 17, 2015, Lindsey Graham suspended campaign events and addressed the Confederate flag controversy at the South Carolina State Capitol, acknowledging its divisive symbolism but emphasizing the shooter's personal responsibility for the crime.

July 2015: Clash with Donald Trump

In July 2015, Lindsey Graham, then a presidential candidate, called Donald Trump a "jackass" for criticizing John McCain. Trump retaliated by calling Graham an "idiot" and revealing Graham's personal cellphone number at a campaign rally.

December 2015: Criticism of Trump's Muslim Ban Proposal

In December 2015, Lindsey Graham criticized Donald Trump's proposal to ban Muslims from entering the United States, calling him a "race-baiting, xenophobic, religious bigot."

December 21, 2015: Graham Suspends Presidential Campaign

On December 21, 2015, Lindsey Graham suspended his presidential campaign due to lack of support and poor polling numbers.

2015: Statement on Climate Change

In 2015, Graham stated that he accepts that climate change is real, but said he does not know the role human activity played.

2015: Graham and Trump Conflict

In 2015, Lindsey Graham and Donald Trump had a conflict which led to Graham passing his new phone number to Trump after a meeting in March 2017.

2015: Retired from Air Force

In 2015, Lindsey Graham retired from the Air Force at his last rank of colonel with over 33 total years of service, after reaching the statutory retirement age of 60 for his rank.

2015: Graham sponsors Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act

In 2015, Lindsey Graham sponsored the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act in the Senate, which bans abortion after 20 weeks of gestation on a national basis.

January 15, 2016: Graham Endorses Jeb Bush for President

On January 15, 2016, Lindsey Graham endorsed former Florida Governor Jeb Bush for president.

February 2016: Graham Calls Trump a 'Kook'

In February 2016, Lindsey Graham called Donald Trump a "kook" and "crazy", deeming him unfit for office.

May 2016: Warning about Trump Nomination

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

May 2016: Graham Refuses to Support Trump or Clinton

In May 2016, after Donald Trump's nomination seemed certain, Lindsey Graham declared that he would not vote for either Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton, expressing disagreement with Trump's direction.

June 2016: Graham Criticizes Trump's Comments on Judge's Heritage

In June 2016, Lindsey Graham criticized Donald Trump's comments about a judge of Mexican heritage, stating that Trump was "playing the race card" and that his actions were "very un-American". He also suggested that people should reconsider supporting the Republican party if Trump continued this line of attack.

November 8, 2016: Graham Votes for Evan McMullin

On November 8, 2016, Lindsey Graham announced that he had voted for Evan McMullin in the presidential election.

2016: Graham mentions his 2016 pledge

In 2016, Graham made a pledge about filling Supreme Court vacancies.

2016: Republican Presidential Campaign

In 2016, Lindsey Graham ran for the Republican nomination in the U.S. presidential election but dropped out before the primaries.

2016: Candidacy announcement for president

In 2016, Lindsey Graham's sister, Darline Graham Nordone, introduced him at his announcement of his candidacy for president. She expressed her intention to frequently join him on the campaign trail to showcase his softer side to voters.

2016: Graham states Supreme Court vacancies should not be filled in a presidential election year

In 2016, after the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, Lindsey Graham stated that Supreme Court vacancies should never be filled in a presidential election year, setting a precedent for Republicans.

2016: Graham Received Campaign Contributions from Thornton Law Firm

In 2016, reports surfaced that Lindsey Graham was the only Republican recipient of funds from a major Democratic donor, the Thornton Law Firm, which was under scrutiny for questionable campaign donation practices.

2016: Liberation of Manbij from ISIS

In 2016, the Manbij Military Council, aided by the US-led coalition, successfully liberated the city of Manbij from ISIS.

2016: Russian Interference in US Elections

In 2016, there was interference by Russia in the US elections, which later led to charges against ex-MI6 officer Christopher Steele in January 2018.

January 5, 2017: Condemnation of Obama's Abstention on UN Resolution

On January 5, 2017, Graham condemned Obama for abstaining from UN Security Council Resolution 2334, which criticized Israeli settlement building.

March 2017: Shift in Alliance with Trump

After a meeting in March 2017, Lindsey Graham became a staunch ally of Donald Trump.

March 2017: Graham Meets with Trump

In March 2017, Lindsey Graham had a meeting with Donald Trump that Graham described as going very well, leading him to pass his new phone number to Trump, alluding to their past conflict in 2015.

March 2017: Graham votes for Broadband Consumer Privacy Proposal

In March 2017, Lindsey 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.

October 2017: Graham Plays Golf with Trump

In October 2017, Lindsey Graham and Donald Trump played golf together on multiple occasions, with Graham publicly praising the first outing.

October 2017: Graham Calls for Expanded Military Role in Niger After Tongo Tongo Ambush

In October 2017, following the Tongo Tongo ambush that resulted in the death of four U.S. soldiers, Lindsey Graham revealed his unawareness of the presence of a thousand troops in Niger and subsequently called for an expanded U.S. military role in Niger.

November 2017: Graham Criticizes Media's Reporting on Trump

In November 2017, Lindsey Graham criticized the media's reporting on Donald Trump, objecting to what he saw as an attempt to portray Trump as unfit for president.

2017: Graham authors Graham-Cassidy amendment

In 2017, Lindsey Graham played a leading role in efforts to repeal Obamacare, authoring the Graham–Cassidy amendment to Republicans' repeal efforts.

January 2018: Graham Recommends Charges Against Christopher Steele

In January 2018, Lindsey Graham and Chuck Grassley made a criminal referral recommending charges against ex-MI6 officer Christopher Steele, the author of the Steele dossier, alleging he lied to federal authorities in the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.

April 2018: Graham Supports Trump's Reelection

In April 2018, Lindsey Graham publicly stated that he would support Donald Trump's reelection in 2020.

April 2018: Senators Introduce Legislation to Protect Special Counsel Mueller

In April 2018, following the FBI raid on Michael Cohen's office and hotel room, Lindsey Graham, along with Cory Booker, Chris Coons, and Thom Tillis, introduced the Special Counsel Independence and Integrity Act to limit President Trump's ability to fire special counsel Robert Mueller.

May 2018: Graham votes against restoring net neutrality

In May 2018, Lindsey Graham voted against legislation that would have overturned the FCC's ruling and restored net neutrality.

July 2018: Graham Visits Manbij, Syria

In July 2018, Lindsey Graham and Senator Jeanne Shaheen visited Manbij in Syria, where they met with the Manbij Military Council, which had liberated the city from ISIS in 2016 with the help of the US-led coalition.

August 2018: Graham Denies Trump is Racist

In August 2018, The Washington Post reported that Lindsey Graham had said, "I have never heard him make a single racist statement. Not even close."

October 2018: Graham says Supreme Court vacancies should wait until the next election

In October 2018, Lindsey Graham stated that if a Supreme Court opening occurred in the last year of President Trump's term, and the primary process had started, the decision should wait until the next election.

November 2018: Graham to Chair Senate Judiciary Committee

In November 2018, it was announced that Lindsey Graham would take over as chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, succeeding Chuck Grassley.

2018: Graham states Roe v. Wade should not be overturned without good reason

In 2018, Lindsey Graham was anti-abortion, but said that Roe v. Wade is precedent that should not be overturned without good reason.

2018: Graham opposes delaying Kavanaugh's confirmation hearings

In 2018, during Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court confirmation hearings, Lindsey Graham opposed delaying the process due to Christine Blasey Ford's allegations of sexual assault. Graham doubted Ford's recollection after her testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

January 2019: Graham Urges Republican Support for Trump's Policies

In January 2019, Lindsey Graham asserted that Republicans must support Donald Trump's policies, warning that undermining the president would lead to the end of his presidency and the Republican party.

February 2019: Graham Discusses Relationship with Trump

In February 2019, during an interview with The New York Times Magazine, Lindsey Graham explained his transition to becoming a prominent supporter of Donald Trump, stating his desire to be relevant and gain influence by working with the president. He compared his previous relationship with John McCain to his current, more personal relationship with Trump.

March 11, 2019: Encouragement to Recognize Golan Heights as Part of Israel

On March 11, 2019, Graham stated that he would encourage the Trump administration to recognize the Golan Heights as part of Israel.

March 14, 2019: Graham Blocks Resolution to Publicize Mueller Report

On March 14, 2019, Lindsey Graham blocked a resolution calling for the public release of the Mueller report, despite its unanimous passage in the House.

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

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

May 2019: Graham Calls for Military Invasion of Venezuela

In May 2019, Lindsey Graham advocated for a military invasion of Venezuela with the goal of overthrowing Nicolás Maduro, amidst the Venezuelan presidential crisis.

May 2019: Graham proposes new immigration laws

In May 2019, Lindsey Graham proposed instituting new immigration laws that would restrict asylum applications and extend detention periods for migrant children.

June 2019: Graham Votes 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 arms deal with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan, and he also opposed additional arms sales.

June 25, 2019: Graham Defends Trump's Cooperation with Mueller Investigation

On June 25, 2019, Lindsey Graham stated that President Trump had fully cooperated with the Mueller investigation, providing documents and making individuals available for testimony, implying that Trump had not obstructed the search for truth.

July 2019: Graham Defends Trump's Statements

In July 2019, Lindsey Graham defended Donald Trump by saying he did not think Trump was racist. Graham stated 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.

July 2019: Graham visits migrant detention center in Texas

In July 2019, Lindsey Graham visited a migrant detention center in Texas, describing it as "a facility overwhelmed" and stating that some migrants might need to stay there for 400 days.

July 24, 2019: Graham Speculates on Mueller Report After Testimony

After Robert Mueller's testimony to congressional committees on July 24, 2019, Lindsey Graham speculated that the Mueller report was so in name only.

October 8, 2019: Graham Condemns Trump's Decision to Withdraw Troops from Syria

On October 8, 2019, Lindsey Graham publicly condemned Donald Trump's decision to withdraw U.S. troops from northern Syria, stating that it put the nation and Trump's presidency at risk and lacked support from key national security advisors.

October 2019: Graham Announces Intent to Sanction Turkey if it Invades Syria

In October 2019, Lindsey Graham announced his intention to introduce bipartisan sanctions against Turkey if they invaded Syria and threatened to call for their suspension from NATO if they attacked Kurdish forces assisting the U.S. in combating ISIS.

November 2019: Graham Blocks Senate Resolution on Armenian Genocide

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

December 2019: Graham Expresses Bias in Trump Impeachment Trial

In December 2019, Lindsey Graham signaled that he had already made up his mind regarding the impeachment of Donald Trump and would do everything possible to ensure the trial would "die quickly" in the Senate. He stated that he held disdain for the accusations and the process, and did not need any witnesses for the Senate trial.

December 2019: Graham Votes for Resolution Recognizing Armenian Genocide

In December 2019, Lindsey Graham voted in favor of a resolution to officially recognize the Armenian genocide, which subsequently passed the Senate unanimously.

2019: Graham becomes chair of the Judiciary Committee

In 2019, Lindsey Graham became chair of the Judiciary Committee.

2019: Chaired the Senate Committee on the Judiciary

In 2019, Lindsey Graham chaired the Senate Committee on the Judiciary.

May 2020: Graham says Senate would confirm a Supreme Court nominee before the November election

In May 2020, Lindsey Graham stated that the Senate would work to confirm a Supreme Court nominee if a vacancy arose before the November election, citing the difference between a divided government and unified control.

August 2020: Graham states rules have changed regarding Supreme Court confirmations

In August 2020, Lindsey Graham said that after Kavanaugh's confirmation, "the rules have changed as far as I'm concerned."

September 2020: Graham supports immediate Senate vote on Supreme Court nominee

In September 2020, after the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Lindsey Graham expressed support for the Senate immediately voting on President Trump's nominee to succeed her, reversing his earlier stance.

2020: Graham Supports Challenging Election Results

After major news networks projected that Joe Biden had won the 2020 United States presidential election, Lindsey Graham said that Donald Trump "should not concede" and advocated for challenging the election system. Graham donated $500,000 to Trump's election lawsuits and suggested Republican state legislators could invalidate election results and appoint electors who would vote for Trump.

2020: Graham Discusses Georgia's Vote Counting with Raffensperger

During the 2020 election recount in Georgia, Lindsey Graham contacted Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to discuss the vote counting process. Raffensperger said that Graham inquired whether Raffensperger could disqualify all mail-in ballots in counties with more signature errors, which Raffensperger viewed as a suggestion to throw out legally cast ballots. Graham denied this.

2020: Sponsorship of Growing Climate Solutions Act

In 2020, Graham sponsored the Growing Climate Solutions Act, designed to facilitate the sale of carbon credits by farmers in existing carbon trading markets in California and the Northeast.

2020: Defeated Jaime Harrison in Senate Election

In 2020, Lindsey Graham defeated Democrat Jaime Harrison in the Senate election, despite a competitive race and record fundraising by his opponent.

2020: Graham declines to sign amicus brief to overturn Roe

In 2020, Lindsey Graham was one of 13 Republican senators who declined to sign an amicus brief asking the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade.

2020: Reelected to the U.S. Senate

In 2020, Lindsey Graham was reelected to the U.S. Senate.

2020: Graham Calls for Investigation of Voting Irregularities

In 2020, after receiving an affidavit by Pennsylvania postal worker Richard Hopkins, 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 allegations of backdated mail ballots. Project Veritas released Hopkins's affidavit and 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.

2020: Arctic Frost investigation into efforts to overturn presidential election

In 2020, there were efforts to overturn the presidential election, which later lead to Arctic Frost investigation and Senator Lindsey Graham's phone metadata being obtained by FBI in October 2025.

2020: Trump Regrets Endorsing Graham

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

2020: Graham Aims for Senate Reelection

In February 2019, Lindsey Graham stated that a good relationship with Donald Trump would help his prospects of reelection to the Senate in 2020.

2020: Graham to Support Trump's Reelection

Lindsey Graham stated in April 2018 that he would support Donald Trump's reelection in 2020.

January 6, 2021: Graham Condemns Election Denial After Capitol Attack

On January 6, 2021, after the attack on the United States Capitol, Lindsey Graham, along with other members of Congress, was evacuated. Upon reconvening, Graham spoke out against the denials of the election results, stating that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were lawfully elected and would become the President and Vice President of the United States on January 20th.

February 2021: Investigation into Graham's Call with Raffensperger

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: Criticism of Biden's Afghanistan Withdrawal Decision

On July 8, 2021, Graham called President Biden's decision to withdraw all U.S. troops from Afghanistan, which was originally agreed to by the Trump administration, a "disaster in the making."

August 2021: Report on Graham's Call to Biden After Election

In August 2021, The New York Times reported that Lindsey Graham called Joe 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.

2021: FBI Obtained Toll Records Covering January 4-7

From January 4–7, 2021, the FBI obtained toll records—which include call times, numbers dialed, and duration, but not call content

2021: Left chairmanship of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary

In 2021, Lindsey Graham's tenure as chair of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary concluded.

February 2022: Graham introduces EARN IT Act legislation

In February 2022, Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal introduced bipartisan legislation, as part of the EARN IT Act, to incentivize tech companies to remove child sexual abuse material from their platforms.

March 3, 2022: Controversial Tweet Regarding Putin

On March 3, 2022, Graham tweeted a suggestion that someone in Russia should assassinate President Vladimir Putin, drawing backlash and condemnation.

May 2022: Graham advocates Supreme Court overturn Roe

In May 2022, Lindsey Graham advocated that the Supreme Court overturn Roe to ensure that "every state will decide if abortion is legal and on what terms".

June 2022: Graham asserts Constitution doesn't give federal government right to regulate abortion

In June 2022, Lindsey Graham asserted that all conservatives "believed that there's nothing in the Constitution giving the federal government the right to regulate abortion".

August 2022: Graham says states should decide the issue of abortion

In August 2022, Lindsey Graham said that "states should decide the issue of abortion" and that he had "been consistent" on this.

August 2022: Statement on Federal Recognition of Same-Sex Marriage

In August 2022, after the House approved a bill to recognize same-sex marriages federally, Graham stated that marriage should be decided at the state level, opposing federal intervention in defining marriage.

September 2022: Graham introduces federal ban on abortion

In September 2022, Lindsey 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, reversing his previous stance on states' rights.

2022: Reiterated Support of Defense of Marriage Act

In 2022, Graham reiterated his support for the Defense of Marriage Act.

2022: Graham supports bipartisan agreement on gun control

In 2022, Lindsey Graham became one of ten Republican senators to support a bipartisan agreement on gun control, which included various provisions related to red flags, school safety, background checks, and straw purchases.

January 28, 2023: Graham Supports Trump at Rally

On January 28, 2023, Lindsey Graham appeared at Donald Trump's first prime-time 2024 campaign rally and stated that he would support Trump because he knew what he was going to get.

May 26, 2023: Controversy over Edited Video with Zelenskyy

On May 26, 2023, an edited video released by the Office of the President of Ukraine showed Graham making remarks about Russians dying and American military assistance, sparking criticism and a subsequent release of the unedited video.

May 29, 2023: Russian Arrest Warrant and Response

On May 29, 2023, the Russian Interior Ministry issued an arrest warrant for Graham due to his comments about the war, to which Graham responded with "immense joy" and a willingness to submit to the ICC.

October 10, 2023: Support for Israel and Comments on Gaza War

On October 10, 2023, Graham tweeted his support for Israel during the Gaza war, calling the conflict a "religious war" and suggesting Gaza should be "flattened".

October 31, 2023: Comments on Civilian Casualties in Gaza

On October 31, 2023, Graham stated that civilian casualties in Gaza would not deter him from supporting Israel's goal of eradicating Hamas.

November 2023: Co-sponsorship of Foreign Pollution Fee Act

In November 2023, Graham and Bill Cassidy co-sponsored the Foreign Pollution Fee Act (S. 3198), which proposed imposing a carbon tariff on energy and industrial imports from countries with higher greenhouse gas emissions than the United States.

2023: Graham Votes Against Fiscal Responsibility Act

In 2023, Lindsey Graham was among the 31 Senate Republicans who voted against the final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act.

2023: Graham Ranked High in Bipartisanship

In 2023, the Lugar Center ranked Lindsey Graham in the top third of senators for bipartisanship, due to his willingness to work with Democrats.

February 13, 2024: Vote Against Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan Appropriations Bill

On February 13, 2024, Graham voted against the Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan appropriations bill due to the inclusion of US-Mexico border control measures. He later joined the majority in passing the appropriations when they were presented as separate bills in April.

March 9, 2024: Comments on Palestinian Education System

On March 9, 2024, Graham said that Palestinian children have been taught to kill Jews and that the Palestinian school system should be destroyed.

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 1, 2024: Participation in Conference Call with ICC Prosecutor

On May 1, 2024, Graham participated in a conference call with ICC Prosecutor Karim Ahmad Khan where he allegedly made controversial comments regarding potential arrest warrants for Israeli leaders and the court's jurisdiction.

May 8, 2024: Graham Warns Pentagon Against Halting Arms Supply to Israel

On May 8, 2024, Lindsey Graham cautioned the Pentagon against stopping the supply of arms to Israel amidst the Gaza conflict, likening the situation to "Hiroshima and Nagasaki on steroids", sparking controversy and debate, even in the Japanese National Diet.

May 2024: Graham on Accepting Election Results

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

July 2024: Graham Wishes Biden Well After Reelection Announcement

In July 2024, after President Biden announced he would not seek reelection, Lindsey Graham said he wished Biden well and that he "appreciate[d] his lifelong service to our nation".

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

In September 2024, amid concerns about a potential tie in the Electoral College, Lindsey Graham visited Nebraska and lobbied Governor Jim Pillen to call a special session to adopt a winner-take-all vote allocation system, a move endorsed by Trump. This failed due to lack of support in the state senate.

October 2024: Graham Criticizes Harris

In October 2024, Lindsey Graham said Republican voters who supported Kamala Harris were supporting "the most radical nominee in history of American politics". He argued that the Biden-Harris immigration policy was a larger "danger to this country" than Trump's rhetoric.

2024: Graham Calls Trump's Victory 'Biggest Comeback'

In 2024, Lindsey Graham called Donald Trump's election victory "the biggest comeback in American history".

2024: Graham Campaigns for Trump

Throughout the 2024 election, Lindsey Graham campaigned and publicly advocated for Donald Trump on news programs like Meet The Press and called on other prominent Republican politicians to campaign for Trump.

January 14, 2025: Announced Lead Officials for 2026 Reelection Campaign

On January 14, 2025, Lindsey Graham announced lead officials for his 2026 reelection campaign and reported $15.6 million in campaign fundraising.

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

In January 2025, Lindsey Graham publicly disagreed with several of Donald Trump's initial actions as president, including pardons for January 6 attack participants, the removal of security details for former officials, and the firing of Inspectors General.

March 26, 2025: Trump Endorsed Graham

On March 26, 2025, it was reported that President Donald Trump endorsed Lindsey Graham.

June 1, 2025: Graham's Response to Greta Thunberg's Gaza Aid Mission

On June 1, 2025, Graham responded to Greta Thunberg's trip to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza by ship, with a post on X stating, "Hope Greta and her friends can swim!"

August 2025: Claims About Trump Administration Tariffs

In August 2025, Graham claimed that the Trump administration's tariffs on Indian imports of Russian oil were instrumental in bringing Putin to the negotiating table. He was sharply criticized by economist Jeffrey Sachs.

August 2025: Graham's Statement at South Carolina Republican Party Meeting

In August 2025, at a South Carolina Republican Party meeting, Lindsey Graham stated, "if America pulls the plug on Israel, God will pull the plug on us."

October 2025: Graham's Phone Metadata Obtained by FBI in Arctic Frost Investigation

In October 2025, documents released by Senator Chuck Grassley revealed that Lindsey Graham was among several Republican lawmakers whose phone metadata was obtained by the FBI as part of the Arctic Frost investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election; Graham announced he would pursue legal action against the Department of Justice, former Special Counsel Jack Smith, and Verizon.

2025: Laura Loomer's Testimony

During a deposition in 2025, Laura Loomer testified that Lindsey Graham was gay, claiming she received this information in confidence from members of President Trump's staff. Graham has denied these claims.

2025: Cosponsorship of SAFE Act

In 2025, Graham co-sponsored the Save America’s Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act, which aimed to ban commercial horse slaughter for human consumption and prevent the export of American horses to foreign slaughter facilities.

2025: Support for Secondary Sanctions Against Russia

In 2025, Graham expressed support for secondary sanctions against Russia, proposing 500% tariffs on countries that purchase Russian oil, natural gas, uranium, and other exports.

2025: Humane World Action Fund Scorecard

In 2025, the Humane World Action Fund gave Graham a score of 100 on its Humane Scorecard and designated him a "leader" for his participation in legislative and regulatory efforts supported by the Fund.

January 2026: Graham Vows to Reimpose Sanctions on Syria After Offensive Against Kurds

In January 2026, following the revocation of the Caesar Act, Lindsey Graham pledged to introduce the Save the Kurds Act and reinstate "crippling sanctions" on the Syrian transitional government and its allies after their offensive against Kurdish areas in Rojava, aiming to prevent a "bloodbath" against U.S. Kurdish allies.