History of Lindsey Graham in Timeline
Lindsey Graham is an American politician and attorney who has served as a U.S. Senator for South Carolina since 2003. A prominent member of the Republican Party, he held the position of Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee from 2019 to 2021. Graham's career has been marked by his involvement in numerous legislative debates and his influence within the Republican Party.
July 9, 1955: Lindsey Graham's Birth
On July 9, 1955, Lindsey Olin Graham was born. He later became a politician and attorney, serving as a U.S. Senator for South Carolina.
1966: Fritz Hollings elected to U.S. Senate
In 1966, Fritz Hollings was elected to U.S. Senate. Lindsey Graham became South Carolina's first new U.S. senator since Fritz Hollings in 1966, upon his election in 2002.
1973: Abortion issue until 1973
In May 2022, Lindsey Graham advocated that the Supreme Court overturn Roe to ensure that abortion regulation returned to being a states issue, the way "the United States handled the issue until 1973."
1977: Graduated from the 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 United States Air Force
In 1982, Lindsey Graham joined the United States Air Force as a member of the Judge Advocate General's Corps.
1982: Commissioned as Officer in JAG Corps
In 1982, after graduating from law school, Lindsey Graham was commissioned as an officer in the Judge Advocate General's Corps (JAG Corps) in the United States Air Force.
1984: Served as Chief Prosecutor in Europe
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 until 1988.
1984: Featured in 60 Minutes Episode
In 1984, while defending an Air Force pilot accused of using marijuana, Lindsey Graham was featured in an episode of "60 Minutes" that exposed the Air Force's defective drug-testing procedures.
1988: End of Service in the United States Air Force
In 1988, Lindsey Graham ended his active duty service in the United States Air Force, after which he served in the U.S. Air Force Reserve while in Congress.
1988: Assistant County Attorney
In 1988, after his service in Europe, Lindsey Graham returned to South Carolina and served as assistant county attorney for Oconee County.
1989: Left Active Duty in Air Force
In 1989, Lindsey Graham left active duty in the Air Force 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: City attorney for Central
In 1990, Lindsey Graham served as city attorney for Central until 1994.
1990: Recalled to active duty
In 1990, Lindsey Graham was recalled to active duty for the Gulf War.
1991: Served as Judge Advocate During Gulf War
In 1991, during the Gulf War, Lindsey Graham served as a judge advocate at McEntire Air National Guard Station.
1992: Assistant County Attorney
In 1992, Lindsey Graham ended his service 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.
1993: Served in South Carolina House of Representatives
In 1993, Lindsey Graham began serving his term in the South Carolina House of Representatives.
1994: City attorney for Central
In 1994, Lindsey Graham ended his service 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.
1994: Write-in votes in 1994
In 1994, write-in candidates received a total of 13 votes in the specified election.
1995: Served in U.S. House of Representatives
In 1995, Lindsey Graham began serving in the U.S. House of Representatives, representing South Carolina's 3rd congressional district.
1995: End of term in South Carolina House of Representatives
In 1995, Lindsey Graham finished his term in the South Carolina House of Representatives.
1995: Joined U.S. Air Force Reserve
In 1995, Lindsey Graham joined the U.S. Air Force Reserve after serving in the South Carolina Air National Guard.
1996: Vote for the Defense of Marriage Act
In 1996, Lindsey Graham voted for the Defense of Marriage Act.
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 Impeachment Resolution
In November 1997, Lindsey Graham co-sponsored a resolution by Bob Barr that sought to launch an impeachment inquiry into President Bill Clinton, which predated the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal.
1997: Took Part in Leadership Challenge
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.
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 reported on a controversy regarding Lindsey Graham describing himself as an Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm veteran on his website; Graham clarified that he had not claimed to be a combatant or war hero.
1998: Graham cites Nixon during Clinton impeachment
In December 2019, Democrats referenced statements Lindsey Graham made during the 1998 impeachment of Bill Clinton, including his citation of Richard Nixon.
2000: Graham supports John McCain for president
In 2000, Lindsey Graham supported John McCain's bid for the presidency, marking an early instance of his support for McCain's political career.
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: Votes for Natural Law candidate and write-ins in 2000
In 2000, Natural Law candidate LeRoy J. Klein received 1,122 votes, while write-in candidates received 33 votes in the specified election.
2002: Voted for the Iraq Resolution
In 2002, Graham voted for the Iraq Resolution, which authorized military action against Iraq. He also supported the invasion of Iraq.
2002: Elected to U.S. Senate
In 2002, Lindsey Graham was elected to the U.S. Senate, succeeding Strom Thurmond.
2003: Senior Military Lawyers voiced concerns
As early as 2003, senior military lawyers voiced concerns regarding the legality of interrogations of prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay.
2003: Became U.S. Senator
In 2003, Lindsey Graham became the senior United States Senator from South Carolina, a position he has held since then.
June 2004: Supreme Court decision on habeas corpus petitions
In June 2004, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed detainees to file habeas corpus petitions, which would challenge their detentions. This led Graham to author an amendment to a Department of Defense Authorization Act.
2004: Promoted to Colonel
In 2004, Lindsey Graham was promoted to colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve at a White House ceremony.
May 23, 2005: Gang of 14 compromise
On May 23, 2005, Lindsey Graham was part of the "Gang of 14" senators who reached a compromise to end the blockage of judicial nominees, preventing both Democratic filibusters and the Republican "nuclear option".
July 2005: Secured declassification and release of memoranda
In July 2005, Lindsey Graham secured the declassification and release of memoranda that outlined concerns made by senior military lawyers as early as 2003 regarding the legality of interrogations of prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay.
November 2005: Amendment to DOD Authorization Act Passed
In November 2005, an amendment to a Department of Defense Authorization Act authored by Lindsey Graham was passed in the Senate, attempting to clarify the authority of American courts, following a June 2004 Supreme Court decision.
2005: Detainee Treatment Act
In 2005, the Detainee Treatment Act was enacted and it would strip the Supreme Court of jurisdiction to hear cases brought by Guantanamo detainees.
February 2006: 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 the Detainee Treatment Act of 2005 would strip the Supreme Court of jurisdiction to hear cases brought by Guantanamo detainees.
2006: Voted to support constitutional amendment opposing same-sex marriage
In 2006, Graham voted in favor of a constitutional amendment to oppose same-sex marriage, stating his belief in the traditional definition of marriage and the necessity of the amendment to prevent judges from creating a constitutional right to same-sex marriage.
2006: Support of McCain-Kennedy Immigration Reform Bill
In 2006, Lindsey Graham supported S. 2611, the McCain-Kennedy Immigration Reform Bill, earning him the ire of conservative activists.
2006: Ruling Set Aside
In 2006, the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces set aside a lower court's ruling that had determined Graham's service as a military judge while a sitting member of the Senate was acceptable, concluding it was improper.
2007: Influenced Bush's surge strategy in Iraq
In 2007, Graham, along with John McCain and Joe Lieberman, collectively known as "the three amigos," significantly influenced President Bush's advocacy for the surge strategy in Iraq. Their influence reached its zenith during this period.
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, focusing on detainee and rule-of-law issues.
2007: Support of Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act
In 2007, Lindsey Graham was a supporter of S. 1348, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act.
2008: Primary Challenge
In 2008, Graham faced a primary challenge due to his stance on immigration and collaboration with Senator Ted Kennedy; despite this, he won the nomination by a large margin.
2008: Graham co-chairs McCain's presidential campaign
In 2008, Lindsey Graham served as the national co-chair of John McCain's presidential campaign, demonstrating his strong support and involvement in McCain's political aspirations.
2008: Reelected to U.S. Senate
In 2008, Lindsey Graham was reelected to the U.S. Senate, defeating Buddy Witherspoon in the Republican primary and Bob Conley in the general election.
2008: Russia's invasion of Georgian land
In 2008, Russia invaded Georgian land.
August 2009: Served in Afghanistan
During the August 2009 Senate recess, Lindsey Graham served in Afghanistan.
August 2009: Served as Senior Legal Advisor
From August 2009, Lindsey Graham served as a senior legal advisor to the Air Force in Iraq and Afghanistan, overseeing the detention of military prisoners.
December 10, 2009: Co-sponsored letter committing to passing a climate change bill
On December 10, 2009, Lindsey 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, jeopardizing the bill's passage.
December 2009: Vote Against Affordable Care Act
In December 2009, Lindsey Graham voted against the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).
June 2010: Stated that the science about global warming has changed
In June 2010, Graham stated that the science about global warming had changed and that he believed it had been oversold. He also announced plans to vote against the climate bill he had originally co-sponsored, citing offshore drilling restrictions.
July 2010: Suggested Amendment to Birthright Citizenship
In July 2010, Lindsey Graham suggested that the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, guaranteeing birthright citizenship, should be amended, and that children born to illegal immigrants in the United States should be considered illegal immigrants.
November 6, 2010: Called for preemptive military strike to weaken the Iranian regime
On November 6, 2010, Graham called for a preemptive military strike to weaken the Iranian regime.
December 2010: Voted against the ratification of New Start
In December 2010, Graham was one of 26 senators to vote against the ratification of New Start, a nuclear arms reduction treaty between the U.S. and the Russian Federation.
2010: Thornton Law Firm's campaign contributions
Between 2010 and 2014, partners from the Thornton Law Firm, known for asbestos-related litigation, and one of their wives, contributed $1.6 million to politicians, with $1.4 million being reimbursed to the partners by the firm.
2010: Voted against Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act
In 2010, Lindsey Graham voted against the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act.
2010: Immigration Reform Talks with Chuck Schumer Break Down
In early 2010, Lindsey Graham began working with Democratic New York senator Chuck Schumer on immigration reform, but the talks broke down later that year.
April 3, 2011: Comments on Limiting Freedom of Speech
On April 3, 2011, during an appearance on Face the Nation, Lindsey Graham suggested that Congress should take action against the Koran-burning by Florida preacher Terry Jones, arguing for potential limits on freedom of speech in wartime.
August 2011: Co-sponsored resolution regarding Russia's invasion of Georgia
In August 2011, Graham co-sponsored a resolution contending that Russia's invasion of Georgian land in 2008 was an act of aggression, not only to Georgia but to all new democracies.
2011: Supported a continuing U.S. military presence in Iraq
In 2011, Graham supported a continuing U.S. military presence in Iraq, saying that if the U.S. wasn't smart enough to have 10,000 to 15,000 troops there in 2012, Iraq could "go to hell."
2011: Kelly Ayotte joined Graham and McCain
In 2011, Kelly Ayotte joined the Senate and was considered Lieberman's replacement in the group of Graham and McCain.
April 2012: Graham endorses Mitt Romney for president
In April 2012, after Rick Santorum withdrew from the race, Lindsey Graham endorsed Mitt Romney as the presumptive Republican nominee for president. This endorsement came after Graham had declined to endorse a candidate before the South Carolina Republican primary in January 2012.
June 2012: Graham supports closing tax loopholes
In June 2012, despite signing Grover Norquist's Taxpayer Protection Pledge, Lindsey Graham expressed support for closing tax loopholes even without corresponding decreases in other tax revenue, citing the country's significant debt as a reason to compromise on ideological grounds.
November 2012: Resumption of Immigration Reform Talks with Schumer
In November 2012, Lindsey Graham and Chuck Schumer resumed their talks on comprehensive immigration reform.
2012: Discussed American troops in Iraq
In 2012, Graham commented on the potential need for a continued U.S. military presence in Iraq to prevent instability.
January 28, 2013: Announcement of Immigration Reform Principles
On January 28, 2013, Lindsey Graham was part of a bipartisan group of eight senators that announced principles for comprehensive immigration reform.
January 29, 2013: Accused Hillary Clinton of "getting away with murder"
On January 29, 2013, Graham stated 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: Criticized budget reduction
On February 28, 2013, Graham criticized Obama and both political parties on the Senate floor for allowing budget reduction to occur with "two-thirds of the budget" exempt from reductions. He stated that the impact on the Department of Defense would create a "hollow military" that "invites aggression".
March 2013: Introduction of Bill to Close Gun Loopholes
In March 2013, Lindsey Graham, along with senators Jeff Flake, Mark Begich, and Mark Pryor, introduced a bill to close loopholes related to gun purchases by individuals with a history of insanity defenses or court-ordered mental health treatment.
June 23, 2013: Senate Close to 70 Votes for Reform Package
On June 23, 2013, Lindsey Graham stated that the Senate was close to obtaining 70 votes to pass the immigration reform package.
July 16, 2013: Suggested a boycott of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi
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".
July 25, 2013: Amendment on Sanctions for Countries Offering Asylum to Edward Snowden
On July 25, 2013, the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations unanimously adopted an amendment by Lindsey Graham to the Fiscal Year 2014 Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Bill, seeking sanctions against any country that offered asylum to former NSA contractor Edward Snowden.
2013: Democrats Changed Senate Rules
In 2013, Democrats changed Senate rules to allow a simple majority vote for nominees to United States courts of appeals.
2013: Support for NSA Phone Record Collection
In 2013, in response to disclosures about the United States National Security Agency and its international partners' global surveillance, Lindsey Graham expressed support for the NSA collecting phone records, stating that he was a Verizon customer and did not mind the government accessing records to identify potential terrorist connections.
2013: Influence declined due to Lieberman's retirement
In 2013, the influence of Graham and his allies declined due to Lieberman's retirement from the Senate.
July 2014: End of service as senior legal advisor
In July 2014, Lindsey Graham ended his service as a senior legal advisor to the Air Force in Iraq and Afghanistan.
2014: Thornton Law Firm's campaign contributions
Between 2010 and 2014, partners from the Thornton Law Firm, known for asbestos-related litigation, and one of their wives, contributed $1.6 million to politicians, with $1.4 million being reimbursed to the partners by the firm.
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 compromising with Democrats.
2014: Reelected to U.S. Senate
In 2014, Lindsey Graham was reelected to the U.S. Senate.
2014: Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia
In 2014, the Winter Olympics were held in Sochi, Russia.
2014: Related Programs Appropriations Bill
In the Fiscal Year 2014, Lindsey Graham's amendment to the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Bill was being considered.
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 jokingly suggested using the military to keep Congress in session until the issue was resolved.
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 between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia and characterizing them as mortal enemies of Iran. Graham stated the importance of maintaining a strong relationship with Saudi Arabia in the context of regional politics in March 2015.
April 19, 2015: Graham indicates likelihood of presidential run
On April 19, 2015, Lindsey Graham stated on Fox News Sunday that he was "91% sure" he would run for president, contingent on his ability to raise sufficient funds.
May 18, 2015: Graham informally 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 announces presidential candidacy
Lindsey Graham officially announced his candidacy for President of the United States on June 1, 2015, marking the start of his campaign.
June 17, 2015: Graham responds to Charleston church shooting
After a mass shooting at a historic African American church in Charleston on June 17, 2015, Lindsey Graham suspended campaign events and returned to South Carolina. He addressed the controversy surrounding the Confederate flag at the State Capitol, acknowledging its multiple interpretations and emphasized the shooter's personal responsibility for the crime.
July 2015: Called Donald Trump a "jackass"
In July 2015, as a presidential candidate, Lindsey Graham called Donald Trump a "jackass" for his comments about John McCain. Trump responded by calling Graham an "idiot" and revealing Graham's personal cellphone number at a campaign rally.
December 2015: Dropped out of presidential race
In December 2015, Lindsey Graham dropped out of the Republican nomination race for president before the 2016 primaries began.
December 2015: Called Trump a "race-baiting, xenophobic, religious bigot"
In December 2015, Lindsey Graham responded to Trump's call for a ban on Muslims entering the United States by 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 a lack of support and poor polling numbers, ending his bid for the presidency.
2015: Accepted that climate change is real
In 2015, Graham said that he "completely understand[s] and accept[s]" that climate change is real, but said "I don't know" the role human activity played.
2015: Graham and Trump conflict
In 2015, Lindsey Graham and Donald Trump had a conflict.
2015: Retired from Air Force
In 2015, Lindsey Graham retired from the Air Force at his last rank of colonel, with over 33 years of service.
2015: Sponsorship of Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act
In 2015, Lindsey Graham sponsored the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act in the Senate, which sought to ban abortion after 20 weeks of gestation on a national basis, with exceptions.
January 15, 2016: Graham endorses Jeb Bush for president
On January 15, 2016, Lindsey Graham endorsed former Florida Governor Jeb Bush for president, following the suspension of his own campaign.
February 2016: Graham says Trump is a 'kook'
In February 2016, Lindsey Graham stated that Donald Trump was a 'kook', crazy, and unfit for office.
May 2016: Criticized Trump on Twitter
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 it became clear that Donald Trump would be the Republican nominee, Lindsey Graham announced that he would not vote for either Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton, expressing his disapproval of Trump's political approach.
June 2016: Criticized Trump's comments on Judge
In June 2016, after Trump criticized a judge of Mexican heritage, Lindsey Graham said Trump was "playing the race card" and that people needed to reconsider the future of the Republican party.
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, after previously stating he would not vote for either Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton.
2016: Sister introduces Graham at presidential candidacy announcement
In 2016, Lindsey Graham's sister, Darline Graham Nordone, introduced him at the announcement of his candidacy for president. Nordone emphasized Graham's caring nature and the close bond they shared since the early deaths of their parents.
2016: Report on Graham's 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, the Thornton Law Firm, which was under scrutiny for questionable campaign donation practices.
2016: Republicans boycott Obama's nomination of Merrick Garland
In 2016, after Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia died, Republican senators boycotted Obama's nomination of Merrick Garland and Lindsey Graham said that Supreme Court vacancies should never be filled in a presidential election year.
2016: Graham's Previous Stance
In 2016, prior to September 2020, Graham took a different stance than he did after the death of Justice Ginsburg.
2016: Offensive to liberate Manbij from ISIS
In 2016, the Manbij Military Council led an offensive to liberate the city from ISIS with help from the US-led coalition.
2016: Investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election
In January 2018, Lindsey Graham and Chuck Grassley recommended charges against former MI6 officer Christopher Steele, who was identified as the author of the Steele dossier, in connection with the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. They believed Steele had lied to federal authorities.
2016: Critic of Donald Trump's Candidacy
Throughout 2016, Lindsey Graham was an outspoken critic of Donald Trump's presidential candidacy, particularly Trump's comments on John McCain.
January 5, 2017: Condemned Obama for abstaining from UN Security Council Resolution 2334
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.
March 2017: Became an ally of Donald Trump
After a meeting with Donald Trump in March 2017, Lindsey Graham became a staunch ally of Trump, often defending him publicly.
March 2017: Graham meets with Trump
In March 2017, Lindsey Graham met with Donald Trump, and stated that the meeting went so well, he gave Trump his new phone number, referencing their conflict in 2015.
March 2017: Vote for Broadband Consumer Privacy Proposal
In March 2017, Lindsey Graham voted for the Broadband Consumer Privacy Proposal, which eliminated the FCC's internet privacy rules and allowed internet service providers to sell customers' browsing history without their permission.
October 2017: Graham and Trump play golf
In October 2017, Lindsey Graham and Donald Trump played golf together on multiple occasions, with Graham praising the first outing.
October 2017: Called for an expanded role of the U.S. military in Niger
In October 2017, following the Tongo Tongo ambush that killed four U.S. soldiers, Graham called for an expanded role of the U.S. military in Niger and suggested more aggression by the U.S. toward its enemies.
November 2017: Graham criticizes media's reporting on Trump
In November 2017, Lindsey Graham criticized the media's reporting on Donald Trump, stating concerns about attempts to label Trump as unfit to be president.
2017: Efforts to Repeal Obamacare
In 2017, Lindsey Graham played a leading role in efforts to repeal Obamacare, authoring the Graham–Cassidy amendment.
January 2018: Graham recommends charges against Christopher Steele
In January 2018, Lindsey Graham and Chuck Grassley recommended charges against former MI6 officer Christopher Steele, who was identified as the author of the Steele dossier, in connection with the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. They believed Steele had lied to federal authorities.
April 2018: Graham supports Trump's reelection
In April 2018, Lindsey Graham stated that he would support Donald Trump's reelection in 2020.
April 2018: Graham introduces legislation to limit Trump's ability to fire Mueller
In April 2018, following the FBI raid on Michael Cohen's office, Lindsey Graham, along with Cory Booker, Chris Coons, and Thom Tillis, introduced the Special Counsel Independence and Integrity Act. This legislation aimed to limit President Trump's ability to fire special counsel Robert Mueller by allowing for an expedited judicial review of any dismissal to determine its appropriateness in April 2018.
May 2018: Vote Against Net Neutrality Legislation
In May 2018, Lindsey Graham voted against legislation that would have overturned the FCC's ruling and restored net neutrality.
July 2018: Visited Manbij in Syria
In July 2018, Graham and Senator Jeanne Shaheen visited Manbij in Syria and met with the Manbij Military Council.
August 2018: Graham defends Trump against racism accusations
Earlier in August 2018, The Washington Post reported that Lindsey Graham had said he had never heard Donald Trump make a single racist statement.
October 2018: Graham comments on Supreme Court vacancies
In an October 2018 interview, Lindsey Graham said that if an opening comes in the last year of President Trump's term, and the primary process has started, they'll wait till the next election.
November 2018: To Chair Senate Judiciary Committee
In November 2018, Senator Chuck Grassley announced that Graham would take his place as chair of the Judiciary Committee.
2018: Position on Roe v. Wade
In 2018, Lindsey Graham stated that while he was anti-abortion, Roe v. Wade should not be overturned without good reason, considering it as precedent.
2018: Kavanaugh Confirmation Hearings
In 2018, during Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court confirmation hearings, Lindsey Graham opposed delaying the process due to Christine Blasey Ford's sexual assault allegations. Graham doubted Ford's recollection of the alleged assault by Kavanaugh.
January 2019: Graham urges Republicans to support Trump's policies
In January 2019, Lindsey Graham said that Republicans must support Donald Trump's policies, warning that undermining the president would mean the end of his presidency and the party.
February 2019: Mark Leibovich interviews Graham
In February 2019, Mark Leibovich interviewed Lindsey Graham for The New York Times Magazine, during which Graham discussed his reasons for becoming a prominent supporter of Donald Trump, stating he sought to be relevant and gain influence.
March 11, 2019: Encouraged Trump administration to recognize the Golan Heights as part of Israel
On March 11, 2019, Graham stated he would encourage the Trump administration to recognize the Golan Heights as part of Israel.
March 14, 2019: Graham blocks resolution calling for Mueller's report to be made public
On March 14, 2019, Lindsey Graham blocked a resolution that called for the public release of the Mueller report. This action occurred after the House had unanimously passed the resolution.
May 14, 2019: Graham encourages Donald Trump Jr. to ignore subpoena
On May 14, 2019, Lindsey Graham faced scrutiny for encouraging Donald Trump Jr. to ignore a subpoena from the Senate Intelligence Committee.
May 2019: Called for military invasion of Venezuela
In May 2019, Graham called for a military invasion of Venezuela to overthrow Nicolás Maduro amid the 2019 Venezuelan presidential crisis.
May 2019: Proposed New Immigration Laws
In May 2019, Lindsey Graham proposed new immigration laws that would restrict asylum applications to migrants from their home country or Mexico, streamline the deportation process for unaccompanied children, and extend the detention period for migrant children.
June 2019: Graham votes to block Trump's Saudi arms deal
In June 2019, Lindsey Graham was among seven Republicans who voted to block President Trump's arms deal with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan. He also voted against an additional 20 arms sales, marking a stance against the administration's policy at the time in June 2019.
June 25, 2019: Graham defends Trump's cooperation with Mueller investigation
On June 25, 2019, Lindsey Graham defended President Trump's level of cooperation with the Mueller investigation, stating that Trump provided a large number of documents and made individuals available for testimony.
July 2019: Graham defends Trump against racism accusations
In July 2019, Lindsey Graham defended Donald Trump against accusations of racism regarding statements made about Democratic congresswomen.
July 2019: Visit to Migrant Detention Center in Texas
In July 2019, Lindsey Graham visited a migrant detention center in Texas. He described it as an "overwhelmed facility" rather than a "concentration camp" and stated he did not care if migrants had to stay in such facilities for 400 days.
July 24, 2019: Graham questions the authenticity of the Mueller report
Following Robert Mueller's testimony to congressional committees on July 24, 2019, Lindsey Graham speculated about the authenticity of the Mueller report, suggesting that it was merely attributed to Mueller but not actually his work.
October 8, 2019: Graham Condemns Trump's Syria Troop Withdrawal
On October 8, 2019, Lindsey Graham condemned Donald Trump's announcement to withdraw U.S. troops from northern Syria, citing risks to the nation and his presidency.
October 2019: Graham threatens sanctions against Turkey
In October 2019, Lindsey Graham announced his intention to introduce bipartisan sanctions against Turkey if they were to invade Syria. Furthermore, he stated that he would call for Turkey's suspension from NATO if they attacked Kurdish forces who had assisted the United States in the fight against 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, a move that drew attention and criticism.
December 2019: Graham votes for resolution recognizing Armenian genocide
In December 2019, Lindsey Graham reversed his previous stance and voted in favor of the Senate resolution to officially recognize the Armenian genocide. The resolution passed the Senate unanimously in December 2019.
December 2019: Graham signals his mind is made up on impeachment
In December 2019, as impeachment articles against Donald Trump moved forward, Lindsey Graham signaled his opposition to the impeachment, stating he was not trying to be a fair juror and wanted to make the trial die quickly.
2019: Became Chair of the Judiciary Committee
In 2019, Lindsey Graham became the chair of the Judiciary Committee.
2019: Chaired Senate Committee on the Judiciary
In 2019, Lindsey Graham became the chair of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary.
May 2020: Statement on Supreme Court Nominee Confirmation
In May 2020, Lindsey Graham stated that the Senate would move to confirm a Supreme Court nominee should a vacancy arise before the November election, distinguishing it from the Merrick Garland situation.
August 2020: Comments on Changed Rules After Kavanaugh Confirmation
In August 2020, Lindsey Graham commented that after Kavanaugh's confirmation, the rules had changed as far as he was concerned.
September 2020: Support for Immediate Vote on Supreme Court Nominee
In September 2020, following the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Lindsey Graham expressed support for the Senate immediately voting on Trump's nominee to succeed her, a stance The New York Times called a reversal of his earlier position.
2020: Graham denies Biden's Victory
Even after all 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 donated $500,000 to Trump's election lawsuits.
2020: Sponsored the Growing Climate Solutions Act
In 2020, Graham sponsored the Growing Climate Solutions Act, which aimed to facilitate farmers' participation in carbon trading markets by simplifying the process of selling carbon credits.
2020: Defeated Jaime Harrison in Senate election
In 2020, Lindsey Graham defeated Jaime Harrison in the Senate election by more than ten percentage points.
2020: Declined to Sign Amicus Brief on Roe v. Wade
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 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 alleging 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."
2020: Graham calls Georgia Secretary of State about vote counting
In 2020, while a recount was ongoing in Georgia, Lindsey Graham called the Georgia Secretary of State, Brad Raffensperger, to discuss the vote counting process.
2020: Trump endorses Graham
In April 2024, Donald Trump expressed regret for endorsing Lindsey Graham in his 2020 Senate campaign.
2020: Graham eyes Senate re-election
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: Trump's reelection
Lindsey Graham said he would support Trump's reelection in 2020 in April 2018.
January 6, 2021: Graham rejects Trump's election denials
On January 6, 2021, after Trump supporters attacked the Capitol, Lindsey Graham disagreed with his Republican colleagues and acknowledged that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were lawfully elected.
February 2021: DA examines Graham's call to 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.
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: Called Biden's decision 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 Trump administration, calling it a "disaster in the making" and predicting it would put the U.S. in danger and potentially lead to another 9/11.
August 2021: Graham calls Biden after the election
In August 2021, The New York Times reported that Lindsey Graham called Joe Biden days after the election and told Biden he had called for a special counsel investigation of Biden's son Hunter during the campaign.
2021: End of term as chair of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary
In 2021, Lindsey Graham's term as the chair of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary came to an end.
February 2022: Introduced Bipartisan Legislation on Child Sexual Abuse Material
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 (CSAM) from their platforms and remove blanket immunity for violations of laws related to online child pornography.
March 3, 2022: Suggested that someone in Russia assassinate Putin
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 backlash from other politicians.
May 2022: Advocated Overturning Roe v. Wade
In May 2022, Lindsey Graham advocated that the Supreme Court should overturn Roe v. Wade.
June 2022: Beliefs on Federal Government's Right to Regulate Abortion
In June 2022, Lindsey Graham asserted that conservatives believed there was nothing in the Constitution that gave the federal government the right to regulate abortion.
August 2022: Statement on States' Rights on Abortion Issue
In August 2022, Lindsey Graham stated that "states should decide the issue of abortion" and claimed that he had "been consistent" on this stance.
August 2022: Argued states should decide the issue of marriage
In August 2022, after the House approved a bill recognizing same-sex marriages at the federal level, Graham stated that individual states should have the authority to decide the issue of marriage and opposed federal intervention in defining marriage.
September 2022: Introduced Federal Ban on Abortion After 15 Weeks
In September 2022, despite previous statements that abortion should be a states' rights issue, 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.
2022: Reiterated Support of the Defense of Marriage Act
In 2022, Lindsey Graham reiterated his support of the Defense of Marriage Act.
2022: Support for Bipartisan Gun Control Agreement
In 2022, Lindsey Graham was one of ten Republican senators to support a bipartisan agreement on gun control, which included various provisions such as red flag laws, funding for school safety resources, and stronger background checks.
January 28, 2023: Graham appears at Trump's rally
On January 28, 2023, Lindsey Graham appeared at Donald Trump's first prime-time 2024 campaign rally and told Fox News host Sean Hannity that he would support Trump.
May 26, 2023: Made comments about the war
On May 26, 2023, an edited video released by the Office of the President of Ukraine showed Graham commenting to Volodymyr Zelenskyy that "the Russians are dying" and that American military assistance to Ukraine was the "best money we've ever spent", which led to criticism before the full, unedited interview was released.
May 29, 2023: Russian Interior Ministry issued an 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 that he would wear the arrest warrant as a "Badge of Honor" and would submit to the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court if Russia attempted to serve the warrant.
October 10, 2023: Stood with Israel during the Gaza war
On October 10, 2023, Graham stated that he "unapologetically stand[s] with Israel" during the Gaza war, calling the conflict a "religious war" and suggesting that Gaza should be "flattened".
November 2023: Co-sponsored the Foreign Pollution Fee Act
In November 2023, Graham and Bill Cassidy co-sponsored the Foreign Pollution Fee Act, which proposed 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: Lugar Center ranks Graham for bipartisanship
In 2023, the Lugar Center ranked Lindsey Graham in the top third of senators for bipartisanship.
February 13, 2024: Voted against the Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan appropriations bill
On February 13, 2024, Graham voted against the Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan appropriations bill because it included an effort by senators James Lankford, Kyrsten Sinema, and Chuck Schumer to control the US-Mexico border.
March 9, 2024: Called for destruction of Palestinian school system
On March 9, 2024, Graham said that Palestinian children had been taught to kill all the Jews and somebody needs to pull the Palestinian school system up by its roots and destroy it.
April 2024: Graham criticizes Trump on abortion
In April 2024, Lindsey Graham criticized Donald Trump for not supporting a federal abortion ban. Trump expressed regret for endorsing Graham in his 2020 Senate campaign.
May 8, 2024: Warned against halting arms supply to Israel and made controversial comments
On May 8, 2024, Graham warned the Pentagon against halting arms supply to Israel during the Gaza war, stating, "Give Israel what they need to fight the war they can't afford to lose. This is Hiroshima and Nagasaki on steroids." This statement caused a debate in the Japanese National Diet.
May 2024: Graham says he would accept the 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 comments on Biden's decision not to seek reelection
In July 2024, after President Biden announced he would not seek reelection, Lindsey Graham said he wished Biden well and appreciated his lifelong service to the nation.
September 2024: Graham lobbies for winner-take-all electoral 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.
October 2024: Graham criticizes Harris and Biden's immigration policy
In October 2024, Lindsey Graham criticized Kamala Harris as the "most radical nominee" and argued that the Biden-Harris immigration policy was a larger "danger to this country" than Trump's rhetoric.
2024: Graham campaigns for Trump
In 2024 Lindsey Graham campaigned and publicly advocated for Donald Trump on news programs and called on other prominent Republican politicians to campaign for Trump.
2024: Graham calls Trump's 2024 election victory the biggest comeback in American history
In 2024, Lindsey Graham called Donald Trump's 2024 election victory "the biggest comeback in American history".
January 14, 2025: Announced 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 criticizes Trump's actions as president
In January 2025, Lindsey Graham took issue with a series of Donald Trump's first actions as president, including pardons for January 6 attackers, removing security details, and firing Inspectors General.
March 26, 2025: Endorsed by President Donald Trump
On March 26, 2025, it was reported that President Donald Trump endorsed Lindsey Graham.
June 1, 2025: Commented on Greta Thunberg's trip to Gaza
On June 1, 2025, in response to Greta Thunberg traveling on a ship bringing humanitarian aid to Gaza, Graham wrote on X: "Hope Greta and her friends can swim!"
2025: Supported secondary sanctions against Russia
In 2025, Graham supported secondary sanctions against Russia that would impose 500% tariffs on countries that buy Russian oil, natural gas, uranium, and other exports.
2026: planning reelection campaign
Lindsey Graham is planning his reelection campaign in 2026.
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