Graham to Sue Over Phone Record Monitoring
Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, announced on FOX News’ “Hannity” that he intends to pursue legal action against federal officials, including former special counsel Jack Smith. This move is in response to reports suggesting that Smith monitored Graham’s phone records dating back to 2021.
An exclusive report from FOX News Digital detailed allegations that Graham, among other Republican figures, was subjected to surveillance as part of the investigation into the events of January 6, 2021. During a discussion of these revelations, Graham called the actions “abuse of power,” pointing out that the monitoring occurred 30 months post-incident without any substantive evidence linking him to wrongdoing.
Graham expressed his belief that this effort was politically motivated, suggesting that if former President Trump hadn’t announced his candidacy for the 2024 elections, this surveillance wouldn’t have taken place. He accused Smith and others of orchestrating a campaign to undermine Trump’s potential return, stating, “I’m going to see what happened to me and my fellow senators. If they did this without a good reason, I’m going to sue these people.”
When asked if he would bring Smith directly into the lawsuit, Graham affirmed he would pursue any available legal avenues. “Who can sue on behalf of the future of those who follow me? I can’t leave the abuse of power unchecked,” he added, referring to past instances of alleged political persecution.
Graham noted that there have been numerous indictments against Trump leading up to the 2024 election, labeling the situation as a significant and unjust campaign against the former president.
Additionally, Graham pointed out that Smith released a document outlining why he believed Trump was guilty just weeks before the election, suggesting this was a violation of Justice Department norms. He expressed frustration with the situation, emphasizing his intention to rectify the perceived injustices not just for himself but for others as well.
In 2023, it was reported that Smith and his team monitored calls from Graham and other Republican senators as part of their investigation into January 6. FBI officials alleged they could track the phone numbers and locations involved in the calls, which were apparently related to plans to challenge electoral vote certifications.
During a recent Oversight Committee hearing, Graham confronted Attorney General Pam Bondy regarding the call tracking and questioned whether such actions amounted to an abuse of power. Bondy refrained from discussing ongoing investigations, but indicated that there had been substantial expenditure associated with these inquiries, summing it up as an effort to undermine Trump’s candidacy.
