Challenges in the Life of Roger Wicker in a Detailed Timeline

Life is full of challenges, and Roger Wicker faced many. Discover key struggles and how they were overcome.

Roger Wicker is an American politician currently serving as the senior United States Senator from Mississippi since 2007. A Republican, he previously served as a U.S. Representative for Mississippi's 1st congressional district from 1995 to 2007 and as a Mississippi State Senator from 1988 to 1995. Before entering politics, Wicker was an officer in the Air Force.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles

April 2013: Targeted during ricin letters attack

In April 2013, Roger Wicker was among the politicians targeted during the ricin letters bioterrorism attack when a letter addressed to him tested positive for ricin.

April 16, 2013: Letter tested positive for ricin

On April 16, 2013, a letter addressed to Roger Wicker tested positive for the poison ricin, as part of the April 2013 ricin letters bioterrorism attack.

2015: Wicker Votes Against Climate Change Amendment

In 2015, Roger Wicker was the only U.S. senator to vote against an amendment declaring that climate change is real, with a final vote of 98 to 1.

2015: Wicker Votes Against Mandatory Background Checks

One day after the 2015 San Bernardino attack, Roger Wicker voted against a bill that would make background checks mandatory when a person buys a gun.

2017: Wicker Votes Against Obama's Executive Action on Gun Control

In 2017, Roger Wicker voted in favor of "a joint resolution of disapproval aimed at former President Barack Obama's executive action requiring the Social Security Administration (SSA) place beneficiaries on the National Instant Criminal Background Check System 'mental defective' list."

2017: Wicker Urges Trump to Withdraw from Paris Agreement

In 2017, Roger Wicker was one of 22 senators to sign a letter to President Trump urging him to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement.

January 6, 2021: Wicker Votes to Certify Election, Capitol Attacked

On January 6, 2021, Roger Wicker initially announced his intention to certify the 2021 United States Electoral College vote count. He was participating in the certification when the U.S. Capitol was attacked by Trump supporters. After the Capitol was secured, Wicker voted to certify the count.

March 2021: Wicker Highlights Restaurant Relief in American Rescue Plan

In March 2021, after Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Roger Wicker highlighted on social media that the bill awarded $28.6 billion of "targeted relief" to "independent restaurant operators" to "survive the pandemic", while neglecting to mention that he had voted against the bill.

May 28, 2021: Wicker Votes Against January 6 Commission

On May 28, 2021, Roger Wicker voted against creating an independent commission to investigate the January 6 United States Capitol attack.

2021: Wicker Criticizes U.S. Withdrawal from Afghanistan

In 2021, Roger Wicker called the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan "one of the biggest foreign policy catastrophes in my lifetime" and suggested a "Korea-like presence" would have been preferable. He also cosponsored legislation to end official diplomatic relations with Afghanistan's new Taliban government.