Tom Cotton is a prominent Republican politician currently serving as the junior United States Senator for Arkansas. He assumed office in 2015 and has steadily risen within the Republican ranks, becoming the chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, effectively making him the third-highest ranking Republican in the Senate. In addition to this leadership role, Cotton also holds the chairmanship of the Senate Intelligence Committee, a powerful position that oversees the nation's intelligence agencies. Before entering the Senate, he served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2013-2015 and also has a military background, having served in both the Iraq War and the War in Afghanistan after graduating from Harvard Law. He is considered a strong conservative voice in the Senate.
May 13, 1977: Birth of Tom Cotton
Tom Cotton was born on May 13, 1977.
1979: Export Administration Act of 1979
The Export Administration Act of 1979 criminalized foreign-led boycotts of US allies and was later amended by the Israel Anti-Boycott Act.
1981: Reference to Iran Hostage Crisis
In 1981, The Iran hostage crisis took place where 52 American diplomats and citizens were held hostage for 444 days.
1993: Jay Dickey's Congressional Term Begins
Jay Dickey's term representing Arkansas's 4th district started in 1993.
1995: High School Graduation and Harvard Acceptance
In 1995, Tom Cotton graduated from high school and was accepted into Harvard College.
1998: Comparison to 1998 Bombing of Iraq
In 1998, during the Bombing of Iraq under President Clinton, similar actions were taken against Iraq's weapons of mass destruction facilities.
1998: Harvard Graduation
Tom Cotton graduated magna cum laude from Harvard with an A.B. in Government in 1998.
1998: Started Master's Program at Claremont
Tom Cotton started a Master's program at Claremont Graduate University in 1998 after graduating from Harvard.
1998: Wrote Article Questioning Internet's Value in Education
Tom Cotton wrote an article for the Harvard Crimson in 1998 in which he questioned the internet's usefulness as an educational tool.
1999: Left Claremont, Entered Harvard Law
Cotton left his master's program at Claremont in 1999 and enrolled at Harvard Law School.
2001: Jay Dickey's Congressional Term Ends
Jay Dickey's term representing Arkansas's 4th district ended in 2001.
2002: Graduated from Harvard Law
In 2002, Cotton graduated from Harvard Law School with a Juris Doctor.
2002: Record Libertarian Senate Vote
In 2002, Michael Cloud set a record for total votes received by a Libertarian candidate in a U.S. Senate election in Massachusetts.
January 11, 2005: Enlistment in US Army
Tom Cotton formally enlisted in the United States Army on January 11, 2005.
March 2005: Entered Officer Candidate School
Cotton entered Officer Candidate School (OCS) in March 2005.
2005: Enlisted in the US Army
Cotton began his military career by enlisting in the U.S. Army in 2005.
May 2006: Deployment to Baghdad
In May 2006, Cotton was deployed to Baghdad as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
June 2006: Open Letter to The New York Times
While in Iraq in June 2006, Cotton wrote an open letter to The New York Times criticizing the publication of a classified government program and calling for the journalists involved to be prosecuted.
December 2006: Promotion and Reassignment
Cotton was promoted to First Lieutenant and reassigned to the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment at Fort Myer in December 2006.
October 2008: Deployment to Afghanistan
Cotton was deployed to eastern Afghanistan in October 2008.
July 2009: End of Afghanistan Deployment
Tom Cotton's deployment in Afghanistan concluded in July 2009.
September 2009: Honorable Discharge and Awards
Cotton was honorably discharged from the Army in September 2009 and received several awards for his service.
July 2010: Joined Army Reserve
In July 2010, Cotton joined the Army Reserve.
2010: Beth Anne Rankin Runs for Congress
Beth Anne Rankin was the 2010 Republican nominee in a previous race.
2010: Considered Senate Run
Cotton considered running for Senate against Blanche Lincoln in 2010 but decided against it.
September 2011: Criticism for 1998 Article on Internet
In September 2011, Cotton faced criticism for a 1998 article he wrote questioning the internet's value in education.
2011: Announced Candidacy for Congress
Cotton announced his run for Congress in Arkansas's 4th district in 2011.
2011: Discussion on Espionage Act
In 2011, discussions and arguments took place regarding the Espionage Act and its potential use against journalists, following Cotton's accusations.
2011: Campaign Ads Begin
Tom Cotton starts running campaign ads in 2011.
February 2012: Marcus Richmond Drops Out
Marcus Richmond drops out of the 4th district race in February 2012.
2012: Opposition to the Affordable Care Act
In 2012, Tom Cotton expressed his opposition to the Affordable Care Act, calling it "offensive to a free society".
2012: Opposition to Amnesty for Illegal Aliens
In 2012, Tom Cotton's campaign website stated his opposition to amnesty and a path to citizenship for illegal aliens.
2012: Support for Traditional Marriage and DOMA
In 2012, Tom Cotton voiced his support for the traditional definition of marriage as between one man and one woman and for the Defense of Marriage Act.
January 3, 2013: Sworn into House of Representatives
Tom Cotton was sworn into the House of Representatives on January 3, 2013.
February 2013: Opposition to Federal Pay Increase
In February 2013, as a freshman representative, Tom Cotton voted against a 0.5% pay increase for federal employees.
May 2013: Discharge from Army Reserve
Cotton was discharged from the Army Reserve in May 2013.
June 2013: Vote on the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act
In June 2013, Tom Cotton voted in favor of the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which sought to ban abortions after 20 weeks.
July 2013: Opposition to Immigration Reform
In July 2013, Tom Cotton actively opposed the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, influencing House Republicans to not bring the bill to a vote.
August 6, 2013: Senate Campaign Announcement
On August 6, 2013, Tom Cotton announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate against incumbent Mark Pryor.
August 2013: Vote Against the Bipartisan Student Loan Certainty Act
In August 2013, Tom Cotton voted against the Bipartisan Student Loan Certainty Act, advocating for an end to what he termed the "federal-government monopoly" on student loans.
2013: Disagreement with Senator Durbin
Following the controversy surrounding Trump's alleged remarks in 2018, Tom Cotton criticized Senator Dick Durbin for misrepresenting previous White House meetings.
2013: Proposed Sanctions on Relatives of Iranian Individuals
In 2013, Cotton introduced legislation to prohibit trade with relatives of individuals under U.S. sanctions against Iran, a move that faced criticism and was later withdrawn.
2013: Vote Against Reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act
In 2013, Tom Cotton voted against reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act, citing concerns about its federal powers.
2013: Beginning of House of Representatives Term
Tom Cotton's service in the United States House of Representatives began in 2013.
2014: Campaign Ads End
Tom Cotton ends running campaign ads in 2014.
2014: NRA Endorsement
Tom Cotton received an endorsement and an A rating from the National Rifle Association (NRA) during his 2014 election campaign.
2014: Marriage to Anna Peckham
Cotton married Anna Peckham in 2014.
2014: Senate Election Victory
In 2014, Tom Cotton won the election to the Senate, defeating incumbent Mark Pryor.
2014: Senate Election Victory
In 2014, Tom Cotton won the Senate election against Mark Pryor.
2014: Opposition to Farm Bill
In 2014, Tom Cotton voted against the Farm Bill due to concerns about waste and fraud, and later voted to strip funding from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
January 6, 2015: Sworn into Senate
Tom Cotton was sworn into the United States Senate on January 6, 2015.
February 5, 2015: Call for Continued Use of Guantanamo Bay
During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on February 5, 2015, Tom Cotton advocated for keeping Guantanamo Bay open and housing more prisoners there.
February 2015: Blocking of Ambassador Nominations
In February 2015, Tom Cotton blocked the nomination of Cassandra Butts to be ambassador to the Bahamas, following a Secret Service leak of information about a member of Congress.
March 2015: Open Letter to Iranian Leaders
In March 2015, Cotton and 47 other Republican Senators sent a letter to Iranian leaders questioning the Obama administration's authority in nuclear negotiations. The letter drew criticism and raised questions regarding the Logan Act and the Treaty Clause.
July 21, 2015: Claims of Secret Side Agreements with Iran
On July 21, 2015, Cotton and Mike Pompeo claimed to have uncovered secret side agreements between Iran and the IAEA regarding nuclear inspections, a claim denied by the Obama administration.
2015: Elected as Junior Senator
Tom Cotton began serving as the junior United States Senator from Arkansas in 2015.
March 2016: Opposition to Obama's Supreme Court Nominee
In March 2016, Tom Cotton opposed consideration of Obama's Supreme Court nominee during an election year.
May 26, 2016: Death of Cassandra Butts
On May 26, 2016, Cassandra Butts, whose ambassador nomination was blocked by Tom Cotton, died.
September 2016: Letter Regarding Russian Airstrikes in Syria
In September 2016, Tom Cotton was among a group of senators urging Secretary of State John Kerry to take action against Russia's airstrikes in Syria launched from an Iranian airbase.
2016: Reelection to Senate
In 2016, Tom Cotton was reelected to the Senate, defeating Libertarian Ricky Dale Harrington Jr.
2016: Stance on Waterboarding
In 2016, Tom Cotton stated his belief that waterboarding is not torture and supported its potential use in obtaining information from terrorists.
2016: Views on Incarceration
In 2016, Tom Cotton rejected the notion of over-incarceration in the U.S., arguing instead for an "under-incarceration problem" and drawing parallels to his experiences in Baghdad and Afghanistan.
2016: Opposition to Amendment Restricting Torture
In 2016, Tom Cotton opposed a bipartisan amendment to the Defense Authorization Act aimed at preventing future presidential authorization of torture.
2016: UN Human Rights Council Resolutions
In 2016, the UN Human Rights Council issued resolutions impacting the Israel Anti-Boycott Act and how business activities may impact Palestinian rights.
February 7, 2017: Introduction of the RAISE Act
On February 7, 2017, Tom Cotton and Senator David Perdue introduced the RAISE Act, an immigration bill proposing to limit family-based migration, refugee admissions, and the Diversity Immigrant Visa program.
July 2017: Cosponsorship of Israel Anti-Boycott Act
In July 2017, Cotton co-sponsored the Israel Anti-Boycott Act, which aimed to prohibit U.S. citizens from supporting boycotts of Israel imposed by foreign governments or organizations. This generated controversy due to potential free speech implications.
July 2017: Vote on Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act
In July 2017, Tom Cotton voted in favor of the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, which imposed sanctions on Russia, Iran, and North Korea.
November 2017: Characterized as Trump Loyalist
In November 2017, Tom Cotton was characterized as a loyalist to President Trump, supporting his economic nationalism policies.
2017: Response to Las Vegas Shooting
Following the 2017 Las Vegas shooting, Tom Cotton initially expressed skepticism about gun control but later indicated a willingness to consider regulations on bump stocks.
2017: Support for Travel Ban
In 2017, Tom Cotton supported President Trump's executive order imposing a travel ban on citizens from several predominantly Muslim countries.
January 11, 2018: Controversy Over Trump's "Shithole Countries" Remark
On January 11, 2018, Tom Cotton was present at a meeting where President Trump allegedly made derogatory remarks about certain countries. Cotton and Senator Perdue subsequently claimed not to recall the specific comments.
January 2018: Protests Over DACA Stance
In January 2018, protests against Tom Cotton's position on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) resulted in several arrests outside his Washington office.
March 13, 2018: Prediction of Russian Denial in Skripal Poisoning
On March 13, 2018, Cotton predicted Russia would "lie and deny" involvement in the poisoning of Sergei Skripal and suggested retaliatory measures for the U.K. and U.S.
July 2018: Introduction of the Iran Hostage Taking Accountability Act
In July 2018, Cotton introduced the Iran Hostage Taking Accountability Act, proposing sanctions against Iranians involved in the detention of Americans and advising Americans against traveling to Iran.
August 2018: Call for Sanctions Against Chinese Officials Over Human Rights Abuses
In August 2018, Tom Cotton and other lawmakers called for sanctions against Chinese officials involved in human rights abuses against Uyghurs in Xinjiang.
November 2018: Opposition to Criminal Justice Reform
In November 2018, Tom Cotton opposed a bipartisan criminal justice reform bill, making inaccurate claims about the lack of hearings and the bill's potential impact on sex offenders.
November 28, 2018: House Passage of E-3 Visa Bill
On November 28, 2018, the House of Representatives passed a bipartisan bill (H.R.7164) to include Ireland in the E-3 Non-immigrant Visa Program.
December 2018: Blocking of E-3 Visa Bill
In December 2018, Tom Cotton placed a hold on the bill (H.R.7164), related to expanding access to E-3 visas to Irish citizens, preventing it from reaching the Senate floor.
December 2018: Concern Over Troop Withdrawal from Syria
In December 2018, Tom Cotton expressed concern over President Trump's announced withdrawal of troops from Syria.
December 18, 2018: Vote Against FIRST STEP Act
Tom Cotton voted against the FIRST STEP Act, a bipartisan criminal justice reform bill, on December 18, 2018.
2018: Death Threats Received
In 2018, Adam Albrett was arrested for sending death threats to Tom Cotton and other members of Congress.
2018: Support for U.S. Withdrawal from Open Skies Agreement
In 2018, Tom Cotton supported U.S. withdrawal from the Open Skies agreement, claiming it favored Russian interests.
2018: Cosponsorship of the Countering the Chinese Government and Communist Party's Political Influence Operations Act
In 2018, Tom Cotton cosponsored a bill aimed at countering Chinese political influence operations in the U.S. and its allies.
January 2019: Support for Concealed Carry Reciprocity
In January 2019, Tom Cotton cosponsored the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, a bill aimed at expanding concealed carry rights across state lines.
January 2019: Vote on Russian Sanctions
In January 2019, Tom Cotton voted to advance legislation blocking President Trump's plan to lift sanctions against three Russian companies.
February 2019: Request for Taiwanese President to Address Congress
In February 2019, Tom Cotton joined other Senate Republicans in requesting that Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen be invited to address a joint meeting of Congress.
April 2019: Criticism of the Southern Poverty Law Center
Tom Cotton labeled the Southern Poverty Law Center a "political hate group" in April 2019 and questioned its tax-exempt status.
May 2019: Comments on Potential War with Iran
In May 2019, Cotton commented on a potential war with Iran, suggesting the U.S. could win swiftly and promising a "furious response" to any Iranian provocation.
May 2019: Cotton on Tariffs and Sacrifice
In May 2019, Tom Cotton argued that the impact of tariffs on American farmers was minimal compared to the sacrifices made by American soldiers serving overseas. He stated that farmers were prepared to make these sacrifices to counter China's attempts to displace the U.S. globally.
May 2019: Cosponsorship of South China Sea and East China Sea Sanctions Act
Tom Cotton cosponsored the South China Sea and East China Sea Sanctions Act in May 2019. This bipartisan bill aimed to impede China's expansion and assertion of control in disputed areas of the South China Sea.
July 2019: Sponsorship of the Defending America's 5G Future Act
In July 2019, Cotton co-sponsored the Defending America's 5G Future Act, aiming to prevent Huawei from being removed from the Commerce Department's "entity list" without congressional approval.
August 2019: Suggestion to Purchase Greenland
In August 2019, it was reported that Tom Cotton had suggested to President Trump and the Danish ambassador that the U.S. purchase Greenland.
October 2019: Additional Death Threats
In October 2019, James Powell was charged with terroristic threatening after sending death threats to Tom Cotton and Representative Rick Crawford.
2019: Publication of Book on Old Guard at Arlington National Cemetery
In 2019, Cotton published a book about the Old Guard at Arlington National Cemetery, drawing on his experience serving in the unit.
January 2020: Sentencing for Threatening Letter
In January 2020, Henry Edward Goodloe was sentenced to probation for sending a threatening letter containing white powder to Tom Cotton's office.
January 28, 2020: Urging Halt to Flights from China
On January 28, 2020, as COVID-19 emerged, Cotton urged the Trump administration to suspend commercial flights from China to the United States.
February 16, 2020: Comments on COVID-19 Origins
On February 16, 2020, Cotton raised questions about the possibility of the coronavirus originating from a lab in Wuhan, China, while acknowledging a lack of direct evidence. This sparked controversy and was labeled a "conspiracy theory" by some media outlets, though some assessments later suggested a lab leak as a possible origin.
March 2020: Call for Accountability for COVID-19
Around March 2020, Cotton called for holding those responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic accountable.
April 2020: Restrictions on Chinese Students in STEM Fields
In April 2020, Cotton advocated for restricting Chinese students studying in the U.S. to humanities fields, barring them from science and technology programs. He expressed concern over the U.S. training individuals who might contribute to the Chinese Communist Party's advancements.
April 2020: Allegations of Deliberate Pandemic Spread
In late April 2020, Cotton suggested that the Chinese government deliberately allowed the COVID-19 pandemic to spread globally to prevent its own decline in power.
July 2020: Saving American History Act
In July 2020, Tom Cotton introduced the Saving American History Act, aiming to prevent federal funding for the teaching of the 1619 Project and sparking debate with his comments on slavery as a "necessary evil".
August 10, 2020: Sanctioned by Chinese Government
On August 10, 2020, the Chinese government sanctioned Tom Cotton and ten other Americans for their actions and statements related to Hong Kong.
September 2020: Potential Supreme Court Nominee
In September 2020, Tom Cotton was shortlisted as a potential Supreme Court nominee by President Trump, but Amy Coney Barrett was ultimately chosen.
2020: 2020 Election and Aftermath
In 2020, following the presidential election, Tom Cotton opposed efforts to overturn the results.
January 6, 2021: Opposition to Overturning Election Results
On January 6, 2021, Tom Cotton announced his refusal to support attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results during the congressional certification process.
January 2021: Opposition to Overturning Election Results
In January 2021, Tom Cotton publically stated his opposition to overturning the 2020 election results.
February 2021: Speech at CPAC on Immigration Policies
In February 2021, during a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), Tom Cotton criticized the Biden administration's immigration policies, falsely claiming that deportations for all illegal aliens, including criminals, had been halted.
May 28, 2021: Vote Against January 6th Commission
On May 28, 2021, Tom Cotton voted against the creation of an independent commission to investigate the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol.
September 2021: Senate Vote on Afghan Refugee Assistance
In September 2021, the Senate rejected Tom Cotton's amendment to restrict assistance to Afghan refugees following the Taliban takeover, including hindering their access to federal identification.
2021: Report on False Claims in Campaign Ads
In 2021, reports emerged about Tom Cotton's false claims in his campaign ads from 2011-2014 regarding his military service.
May 2022: NRA Funding
In May 2022, Tom Cotton was identified as one of the U.S. lawmakers who had received significant funding from the National Rifle Association (NRA).
June 2022: Reaction to the Overturning of Roe v. Wade
Following the overturning of Roe v. Wade in June 2022, Tom Cotton praised the decision, calling Roe a "tragic mistake" that had been corrected.
June 2022: Introduction of Stop Gun Criminals Act
In June 2022, Tom Cotton introduced the "Stop Gun Criminals Act", which proposed increased minimum sentences for gun-related crimes.
2022: Criticism of Ranked-Choice Voting
In 2022, after Mary Peltola won Alaska's special election using ranked-choice voting, Tom Cotton criticized the system, claiming it disenfranchises voters.
March 2023: Introduction of the Not One More Inch or Acre Act
In March 2023, Cotton and Senator Katie Britt introduced the Not One More Inch or Acre Act, a bill designed to prohibit Chinese nationals and entities from owning land in the United States.
July 2023: Criticism of Biden's China Policy
In July 2023, Cotton criticized President Biden's diplomatic approach to China, characterizing it as overly eager and ineffective.
2023: Vote Against the Fiscal Responsibility Act
Tom Cotton voted against the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, citing concerns about its impact on defense spending.
2023: Response to DOE Assessment on COVID-19 Origins
In 2023, following the Department of Energy's assessment that a lab leak was likely the source of COVID-19, Cotton emphasized the importance of holding the Chinese Communist Party accountable to prevent similar incidents in the future.
January 2024: Questioning of TikTok CEO
In January 2024, during a Senate hearing, Cotton questioned TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew about his potential membership in the Chinese Communist Party.
February 28, 2024: Response to Airman's Self-Immolation
On February 28, 2024, Cotton responded to the self-immolation of U.S. airman Aaron Bushnell, calling it an act of horrific violence in support of Hamas and inquiring about efforts to address extremism within the military.
April 2024: Threat to Sanction ICC
In April 2024, Cotton threatened to cut funding to, sanction employees of, and bar entry to the U.S. for the International Criminal Court (ICC) and their families if the ICC issued arrest warrants for Israeli officials.
November 2024: Senate Leadership Positions
In November 2024, Tom Cotton secured key leadership roles in the Senate, becoming chair of both the Senate Republican Conference and the Senate Intelligence Committee.
November 21, 2024: Response to ICC Arrest Warrants
On November 21, 2024, following the ICC's issuing of arrest warrants for Israeli officials, Cotton criticized the court and its prosecutor. He invoked the Hague Invasion Act, suggesting a potential invasion if Netanyahu were arrested.