Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina publicly signaled that he is prepared to stall Senate action on a fast-approaching government funding deadline, directing pointed criticism at both House Republican leadership and the White House over a provision inserted into the latest funding package.
The measure, backed by President Donald Trump and negotiated with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, is intended to avert a government shutdown before funding expires at midnight on Friday.
Graham is among a small group of senators whose objections have prevented the Senate from advancing the package.
At the center of Graham’s opposition is a clause added by the House last week that would repeal a law allowing senators whose phone records were subpoenaed by former special counsel Jack Smith to seek civil damages of up to $500,000 per violation.
Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina publicly signaled that he is prepared to stall Senate action on a fast-approaching government funding deadline, directing pointed criticism at both House Republican leadership and the White House over a provision inserted into the latest funding package.
The measure, backed by President Donald Trump and negotiated with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, is intended to avert a government shutdown before funding expires at midnight on Friday.
Graham is among a small group of senators whose objections have prevented the Senate from advancing the package.
At the center of Graham’s opposition is a clause added by the House last week that would repeal a law allowing senators whose phone records were subpoenaed by former special counsel Jack Smith to seek civil damages of up to $500,000 per violation.
Graham, a vocal supporter of that statute, said the provision was included without consultation and accused House Speaker Mike Johnson of forcing the issue through.
“You could have called me about the $500,000,” Graham said. “I’d be glad to work with you. You jammed me, Speaker Johnson. I won’t forget this. I got a lot of good friends in the House. If you think I’m going to give up on this, you really don’t know me.”
The law Graham is defending was previously added to an earlier funding extension by Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota, with approval from Schumer.
It has drawn bipartisan criticism, with detractors arguing that it enables lawmakers to personally profit from lawsuits funded by taxpayers. Efforts to repeal it have been attempted multiple times in the Senate.
Graham also made clear that his frustration extends beyond Capitol Hill. He said he rebuffed outreach from the White House after learning of its opposition to the provision.
“I’ve been told the White House doesn’t like this, and I told the White House last night, ‘I don’t care if you like it or not.’ I literally texted my friends at the White House, ‘If I were you, I would not call me tonight.’”
“And they didn’t call me,” he continued. “I don’t work for the White House. They’re my political allies. I’m close to President Trump. I don’t work for him.”
While Graham has not ruled out allowing the funding package to proceed, he has set specific conditions.
He said he would lift his hold if Senate leadership agrees to votes on expanding eligibility for lawsuits tied to Smith’s Arctic Frost investigation, as well as on his separate proposal to criminalize actions taken by officials governing sanctuary cities.
Other senators from both parties are also pressing leadership for amendment votes before agreeing to move forward. Republican leaders are currently working to accommodate those requests.
According to Senate sources, none of the lawmakers seeking votes have insisted on guaranteed outcomes, a factor viewed as improving the prospects for eventual passage.
THE THIRD FORCE
