Stephen Miller’s unlikely friendship with Lindsey Graham revealed in heartfelt White House tribute
Stephen Miller, a policy advisor for the White House, paid tribute to the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., on Monday afternoon, calling him a personal “friend.” “Lindsey was of a mold that I don’t think we’re going to see for a very long time,” Miller said. “He was someone who really understood how the power of rhetoric, how the power of communication as a senator can actually change outcomes.” “Lindsey really believed you could change people’s minds through the force and persuasion of his rhetoric.” LINDSEY GRAHAM, SOUTH CAROLINA SENATOR WHO ROSE FROM SMALL-TOWN ROOTS TO GOP POWER BROKER, DIES AT 71 Miller, like many members of the Trump administration, continues to reel from Graham’s sudden death late on Saturday evening, paying homage to a key ally in the Senate. His remarks reveal a closer relationship between the two than has previously been reported. “Lindsey, I miss you, Godspeed and I’ll see you on the other side,” Miller said. While Graham and President Donald Trump had an up-and-down relationship before and after Trump’s first term, Graham was also a close friend to the president and highly influential on domestic and foreign policy. Graham consistently urged the U.S. to assume a leadership role in the international community, arguing the world was safer and more stable with American engagement. “Lindsey was the most effective, consistent advocate for the president’s agenda in the Senate,” Miller said. “That is a historical legacy that will always belong to him.” Miller added a few other details about their relationship, expressing gratitude for Graham’s readiness to work with the administration. FROM ‘DISGRACE’ TO ‘FAMILY’: TRUMP’S REMARKABLE JOURNEY WITH LINDSEY GRAHAM “Lindsay was just so fundamentally good to us, to all of us. Every time we needed everything and anything at all, we called Lindsay. Without question, without hesitation, he would help out. I think it’s important for people to see the fullness of the picture of Lindsey Graham, why people liked him as much as they did, because he was so generous in heart and in spirit,” Miller said. I still honestly almost haven’t with the process that he’s gone, because it was so complete and sudden. Lindsey Graham’s office released a preliminary cause of death on Sunday evening that found the longtime lawmaker had died from “aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.” Aortic dissection is when a tear occurs in the inner wall of the aorta, the body’s main artery, and is a life-threatening medical emergency. On Monday, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster appointed Graham’s sister, Darline Graham Nordone, to serve out the remainder of his term with Trump’s blessing. It’s unclear if Darline would consider running for a full six-year term. LINDSEY GRAHAM’S SISTER APPOINTED TO SENATE AS GOP RUSHES TO PROTECT FRAGILE MAJORITY Reps. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., and Ralph Norman, R-S.C., are both rumored to be eyeing the seat and possible bids for the GOP nomination in the forthcoming special election. According to South Carolina State law, Republicans will have to hold a primary election on Aug. 11.
‘The halls of the Senate already feel empty’: Tearful Thune honors Lindsey Graham as sister takes his seat
In the Senate, there’s a black veil covering a desk. On top there’s a bowl of striking white roses. That’s where Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., used to sit. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., pointed to that desk during an emotional tribute to the late Senator on Monday. Graham was a confidant, trusted advisor and friend to Thune. And through tears, he set about remembering the lawmaker who spent 30 years in Washington, D.C., making a mark on his state and country. “It’s difficult to believe that Lindsey Graham is no longer here with us,” Thune said. “That we won’t run into him at a meeting today or share a joke with him at this afternoon’s vote. The halls of the Senate already feel empty without him. And I know I’m not alone in that feeling.” GRAHAM’S DEATH IGNITES GOP SCRAMBLE FOR SENATE SEAT AS TRUMP HINTS HE ALREADY HAS A FAVORITE As Thune spoke about Graham, the late lawmaker’s staff sat in the Senate chamber as tears filled the room. And since Thune became the leader of the Senate GOP, you would oftentime see Graham enter his office just off the Senate floor. He was there to talk down Republican rebels who threatened to sink President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful bill,” and once earlier this year stormed into Thune’s office declaring his resistance to a deal struck by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and the president to avert a government shutdown. But he was there, and Thune noted that “Lindsey was fearless in his commitment to the causes that he espoused.” SENATE RETURNS TO PACKED AGENDA AFTER GRAHAM’S DEATH SHRINKS GOP MARGIN “It didn’t matter to him whether he would catch flak on an issue,” Thune said. “He was undaunted by the politics if he believed he was right on the principle.” “Senator. Warrior. Patriot. Statesman,” Thune continued. “Words that will be written about Lindsey. But for me, most of all, Mr. President, he was my friend.” Shortly after Thune’s tribute to Graham, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster officially tapped his sister, Darline Graham Nordone, to fill his seat for the remainder of his term. It’s a move that Thune, Trump and Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C. backed. LINDSEY GRAHAM’S SISTER APPOINTED TO SENATE AS GOP RUSHES TO PROTECT FRAGILE MAJORITY “I think this is what Lindsey would have wanted, and I plan to honor him in this way,” Nordone said at the ceremony. “Now to Lindsey, I miss you more than I can even put into words. But I’m going to do this, I got it.” Back in the Senate, Thune remembers Graham as a “staunch conservative and a fierce advocate for South Carolina,” but as a lawmaker who was willing to cross the aisle to find a solution. Through it all, Thune said that he would miss Graham’s friendship and humor. “I am comforted by the knowledge that in the end, he has just changed his address. And that one day, Mr. President,” Thune said through tears. “We will laugh together again.”
Mamdani breaks silence on ‘perverted’ ally who helped sell Platner before scandal-plagued collapse
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced that he will continue to work with Morris Katz, one of the leading political consultants behind Graham Platner’s doomed bid for Senate. “I will continue to work with Morris Katz, he remains a top advisor of mine,” Mamdani said at a news conference on Monday. Many of Katz’s fellow Democrats lambasted him after Platner withdrew from the race following a rape accusation – which Platner denied – from an ex-girlfriend, arguing that Katz failed to do his due diligence before promoting Platner to party leaders. Some in the party are now calling for him to be blacklisted from future political operations. Katz and his consulting partner, Daniel Moraff, ignored multiple requests from their own vetting team to dig deeper into Platner’s past over concerns of possible scandals, a source familiar with the early stages of the Platner campaign previously told Fox News Digital. The duo paid just over $6,000 for a three-day vetting job, something that usually takes weeks and costs tens of thousands of dollars. PLATNER’S THREE-DAY VETTING JOB COMES BACK TO HAUNT DEMS AS RAPE ALLEGATION ROCKS SENATE BID In addition to a rape accusation, Platner also attracted scrutiny over a trove of controversial deleted Reddit posts, a Nazi-linked tattoo he acquired while serving in the military and his alleged mistreatment of women. The reporter asking Mamdani about Katz cited a letter circulated by the Democratic Socialists of America urging their political allies not to work with him. KINGMAKER MAMDANI CALLS ON PLATNER TO ‘DROP OUT OF THE RACE’ AFTER RAPE ALLEGATION “Morris Katz is one of the chief parties responsible for the catastrophic campaign of scandal-ridden Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner,” the letter reads. “Billed as a top adviser to the campaign, Katz helped recruit Platner and supercharged his candidacy with slick video production, friendly media placements and political connections.” Democratic sources claim that Katz pitched Platner as a potential successor to an elderly Sen. Bernie Sanders and a potential presidential contender — a characterization he now denies. After Platner announced his intention to suspend his candidacy, Katz wrote on X that “as soon as the team became aware of the rape allegations against Graham Platner we advised he suspend his candidacy, and in the following days worked to wind down the campaign” and that he was “deeply disappointed.” PLATNER AIDE HIT WITH BRUTAL TIMELINE CHECK AFTER CAMPAIGN DENIED RAPE CLAIM, THEN FOLDED DAYS LATER A community note attached to his post points out that Platner’s campaign initially denied the rape allegation. Katz also threatened former Platner staffer Genevieve McDonald in an attempt to dissuade her from cooperating with reporters seeking to cover Platner’s alleged emotional abuse of women. “Just want to be clear on where we are right now,” Katz wrote in the message obtained by the Bangor Daily News. “If the story goes in its current iteration we’ll communicate directly on the record, and by name, that Genevieve violated the personal trust of Amy and Graham and shared explicit falsehoods to sabotage the campaign.” Katz also faced criticism earlier this year over a puberty book he previously authored. The political consultant authored a book in 2020 that bills itself as a “puberty book” for “curious boys” aged 10 to 12. Sections of the book include “Your New Penis” and “The Magic of Masturbation.” In a footnote on page 15 of the text, Katz wrote that he planned to “use images of my penis” to show children how genitalia develop during puberty, but that publishers shot the idea down for being “inappropriate.” Conservative critics swiftly condemned him over the remark, with Katz later saying the comment was joke. “Only a perverted freak would say that,” wildly popular conservative X account “Libs of TikTok,” which is operated by Chaya Raichik, posted to X in March. “Morris Katz’s musings about exposing himself to ten-year-olds are absolutely disgusting,” the National Republican Senatorial Committee said of Katz back in March as news of the footnote spread. Mamdani’s office did not respond to a request for comment when reached by Fox News Digital on Monday.
Lindsey Graham’s sister appointed to Senate as GOP rushes to protect fragile majority
Darline Graham Nordone, the sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., was appointed to fill her brother’s Senate seat after a push from President Donald Trump. “It’s my honor to ask his little sister, Darlene Graham, to finish his work for him now,” South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster said at a ceremony on Monday afternoon. McMaster, a close Trump ally, appointed Nordone nearly 48 hours after her brother and longtime lawmaker suddenly died from an aortic dissection. McMaster’s pick comes after Trump pushed for Graham’s “wonderful sister” Nordone to get the job. “This would be a fabulous tribute to Lindsey, who loved her dearly,” Trump wrote in a post to Truth Social on Monday morning. HEART CONDITION TIED TO LINDSEY GRAHAM’S DEATH CAN STRIKE WITHOUT WARNING — WHAT TO KNOW Others were also initially considered, including Lt. Gov. Pam Evette, who Trump endorsed in her failed bid to clinch the GOP nomination for governor, former Rep. Trey Gowdy and former Sen. Jim DeMint, sources told Fox News Digital. Her appointment fills the seat through Jan. 3, while voters decide in November who will hold the seat for the next six-year term. At this point, it’s unclear if Nordone, 62, would consider running for a full six-year term, and there’s already private jockeying to run in the special election, set for Aug. 11, to secure the GOP nomination in the Palmetto State, with Reps. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., and Ralph Norman, R-S.C., both eyeing a bid. Graham’s death narrowed Republicans’ Senate majority and added pressure to keep every GOP vote available, especially with Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., still being treated after a fall and pneumonia. Nordone, who has largely kept out of the public eye, is married to Larry Nordone and has two daughters. She has worked with the South Carolina Commission for the Blind (SCCB) as commissioner, according to the organization’s 2026-27 budget. The SCCB provides services aimed at helping blind and low-vision South Carolina residents gain employment, independence and self-sufficiency. In the past, she has described a personal closeness with Lindsey Graham, having been raised by him after the death of their mother when she was just 11. “I have always looked up to Lindsey. He’s just always been there for me as long as I can remember. If I fell down and scraped my knee, Lindsey was the one I ran to,” she recounted in a 2014 campaign ad. Nordone has not previously held elected office. She will become South Carolina’s first female senator. GRAHAM’S DEATH IGNITES GOP SCRAMBLE FOR SENATE SEAT AS TRUMP HINTS HE ALREADY HAS A FAVORITE Following Trump’s endorsement, Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., the chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), also put his support behind Nordone on Monday morning ahead of the announcement. “Lindsey Graham’s sister, Darline Graham Nordone, would be a fantastic pick to serve out the remainder of the Senate term,” Scott wrote in a post to X. “After speaking with Darline, there is no one better who understands Lindsey’s love for family, our state and our country.” McMaster also described speaking with Darline ahead of her appointment as well as with Trump. “After we spoke on the phone in the wee hours of Sunday morning and you agreed to serve through tears, I had wondered what you would say and I was humbled by your quickness to see the duty that you had to serve. And I called the president afterwards, and he thought it was a great idea,” McMaster said. GRAHAM REPORTEDLY REFUSED MEDICAL HELP BEFORE SCHEDULED TV APPEARANCE Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., also voiced his support for Nordone. He told CNN Monday afternoon that he had already spoken with both Nordone and McMaster the day before, and believed that tapping the longtime lawmaker’s sister to fill his spot, “in my view, makes a lot of sense.” “I think, in many respects, it would be a way of extending Lindsey’s legacy here, and certainly something that, if that’s what they decide to end up doing, I think there’d be a lot of support for,” Thune said. The filing period for a special primary election begins on July 21, with the special election to follow on Aug. 11. A runoff, if needed, would be held Aug. 25, leaving the candidate just two months to campaign before the Nov. 3 general election.
Democratic socialists erupt over 2028 endorsement as AOC speculation grows: ‘Dangerous path’
Infighting has erupted within the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) about the selection of its pick for U.S. president, as the group’s influence continues to grow on the national stage and speculation swirls about a 2028 presidential run by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. The infighting reveals fractures in the roughly 120,000-member group, which has emerged as the preeminent socialist group in America. The division also sheds light on how some Democratic Socialists of America members believe the group can gain a permanent foothold in American politics and deliver on its socialist ideals on a national scale. Some Democratic Socialists of America leaders have been pushing for an earlier presidential endorsement in place of the group’s normal practice of selecting endorsements at its biennial national convention, which is set for summer 2027. One faction known as the “Groundwork” caucus is pushing strongly for the group to conduct a national member poll and “endorse AOC on day one.” The caucus believes an early endorsement will help DSA hold a more influential early role in 2028 presidential politics and “build power for socialism.” DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS OF AMERICA LEADER SAYS ‘MANY’ IN GROUP WOULD BE ‘THRILLED’ AT AOC IN 2028 In one online petition, DSA members voiced that “if we don’t have a member poll, we as members will be left out of DSA’s most fundamental way of building a democratic strategy.” However, in a Sunday 14–13 vote, DSA’s National Political Committee (NPC) rejected a proposal to allow the group’s 2028 presidential endorsement to be decided through a nationwide all-member poll, according to Canary Mission. By rejecting the proposal, the committee left the issue to DSA’s existing convention process, meaning any national endorsement decision would likely wait until the organization’s next convention in August 2027. The decision was blasted by many DSA members online. Gustavo Gordillo, co-chair of the group’s New York City chapter, posted on X that “DSA’s national leadership (the NPC) just voted to overturn our convention & took away rank and file members’ right to vote in an all-member poll on presidential endorsement.” Gordillo added that the committee is “taking away our members’ right to vote” while NYC-DSA, the group’s largest chapter, is “send(ing) them ~ $2M per year in dues.” Likewise, J. Ryder, founding editor of a magazine on communism, wrote that the committee’s decision “to suppress polling the will of the members on presidential endorsement is severely disappointing.” Ryder added that “this will inevitably put DSA on the back foot in the 2028 moment,” writing, “Waiting to endorse in August of next year at the convention may mean 6 months+ of vital AOC campaign time where the masses will be mobilizing without intervention by DSA.” “The worst part is, the members want to mobilize, they see the opportunity that this moment represents for socialism and want so desperately to grasp it,” he added. “The fact the (sic) some sectarians on the NPC are suppressing even a non-binding poll shows that they know this, and are scared of the implications of member democracy and mass politics in DSA.” In response, committee member Amy Wilhelm fired back at Gordillo, posting on X that “NYC members deserve co-chairs that don’t lie.” Wilhelm said that “there was never intention to prevent” DSA members from participating in chapter polls, and that “with the resolution where we left it today chapters are allowed to carry out the poll per their standard method.” Likewise, another X user who goes by the name “tylerisposting” blasted Gordillo, telling him in an X post to “stop lying” and “stop trying to foment a split.” Meanwhile, Eve Seitchik, a Massachusetts DSA member, characterized the events of the day as “a massive escalation of factional tensions,” adding, “I’m afraid DSA has been set down a dangerous path.” SOCIALISTS LAUNCH RADICAL PLATFORM TO ABOLISH THE US SENATE IN BID TO FUNDAMENTALLY TRANSFORM AMERICA The authors posited that DSA’s recent electoral wins and Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., “Fight Oligarchy” tour “have shown that there is energy all across the country to support a bold, democratic socialist presidential campaign.” They argued that “DSA should be ready to position ourselves as the political home for the millions of people that will be inspired by AOC’s message and position our organization as the vital core of AOC’s campaign.” They wrote that Ocasio-Cortez is “on the precipice of running for — and potentially winning — the presidency of the United States” and that “this opportunity is years in the making.” “If we drag our feet,” they wrote, “we will have forced ourselves into the backseat and miss the opportunity to strike when the iron is hot.” The four-term congresswoman has not directly said whether she will launch a presidential run in 2028. Rumors are also circulating about her opting to instead run for the Senate to topple Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. Though Ocasio-Cortez is considered one of the most prominent socialists in the country and a close ally of Sanders, she has run afoul of DSA leadership several times. In summer 2025, the group issued a statement condemning Ocasio-Cortez’s vote against an amendment to block additional funding for Israel’s “Iron Dome,” which would have denied Israel an additional $500 million in U.S. funding for its preeminent missile defense system. In 2024, the DSA withdrew its endorsement for Ocasio-Cortez’s re-election, citing that she had not met its conditions, including opposing all funding to Israel and publicly supporting boycott and sanctions for the country. DSA’s New York City chapter notably retained its endorsement for Ocasio-Cortez. AOC TAKES PAGE FROM BIDEN PLAYBOOK IN DODGING INTERVIEWS WITH NATIONAL PRESS Commenting on DSA’s deliberations, a spokesperson for Canary Mission told Fox News Digital that “an AOC presidency would give that movement more than influence: it would give its agenda access to the full power of the executive branch.” The spokesperson added that “putting that power in the hands of a movement that repeatedly places ideological allegiance above America’s national interests, regards America and its allies as the problem,
Obama-appointed judge torches Trump admin in latest courtroom showdown, refers attorney for Bar review
An Obama-appointed federal judge in Florida rebuked President Donald Trump’s legal team Monday, finding his $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS was brought for an “improper purpose” to legitimize a controversial Justice Department settlement. U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams of the Southern District of Florida found the case was brought for an “improper purpose,” rebuked Trump’s legal team and referred attorney Alejandro Brito to the Florida Bar for possible disciplinary action. “The Parties here are not private actors to a mine-run dispute, recounting their proficiency in the art of the deal they negotiated,” wrote Williams. “Lead Plaintiff and Defendants are public servants—the pinnacle of the Executive Branch—sworn to uphold the law, faithfully perform the duties of their office, and protect the interests of the American public.” TRUMP DOUBLES DOWN ON $1.8 BILLION ‘SLUSH FUND’ THAT KILLED HIS AGENDA, SPURRED REPUBLICAN REBELLION Trump, his two eldest sons and the Trump Organization sued the IRS and Treasury Department seeking at least $10 billion in damages for failing to protect his confidential tax information after IRS contractor Charles Littlejohn leaked his records in 2019. Littlejohn pleaded guilty to one count of unauthorized disclosure of tax return and return information. Williams found that Trump was using the lawsuit to advance his own interests while controlling the federal agency he had sued. She was appointed by Obama in 2011 and previously served as a Federal Public Defender for the Southern District of Florida. GOP LEVERAGES ICE FUNDING PACKAGE TO MAKE TRUMP’S CONTROVERSIAL $2B FUND ‘NEVER EXIST’ Trump envisioned creating an “Anti-Weaponization Fund” from the lawsuit settlement to compensate alleged victims of government “lawfare” as well as to halt IRS audits of his finances. The fund drew an enormous amount of scrutiny from Democrats, calling it a “slush fund” to personally benefit Trump and his allies. The fund was later dropped after political backlash, with DOJ Acting Attorney General moving to walk back that portion of the proposed settlement. TRUMP SAYS HE WILL NOMINATE ACTING AG TODD BLANCHE TO PERMANENTLY LEAD JUSTICE DEPARTMENT The lawsuit puts the controversial anti-weaponization fund back under the microscope as confirmation hearings begin Wednesday for Blanche’s nomination as attorney general. Williams called out Blanche in her ruling, saying that he appeared to be speaking for both sides of the lawsuit. “The Court is extremely troubled by the testimony given by Acting Attorney General Blanche on May 19, 2026. In response to why the ‘settlement agreement’ had not been submitted to this Court for review, he stated that ‘there is no judge’ because the case had been dismissed and, therefore, there was “no mechanism” for reviewing the agreement,” wrote Williams. “While temporally accurate, this answer is, at best, misleading and, at worst, disingenuous,” she added. The White House referred Fox News Digital to Trump’s personal attorneys for comment. Fox News Digital reached out to attorney Alejandro Brito and DOJ for comment.
Trump makes surprise pick to fill Graham’s Senate seat
President Donald Trump is pushing for an unexpected replacement to fill the vacancy left by the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., in the Senate. Trump wants South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster to tap Graham’s sister, Darline Graham Nordone, to be appointed to the lawmaker’s suddenly open seat for the remainder of his term. “I recommended, to Governor Henry McMaster, Lindsey Graham’s wonderful sister, Darline, to serve as interim Senator from the Great State of South Carolina,” Trump said on Truth Social on Monday. “This would be a fabulous tribute to Lindsey, who loved her dearly!” Graham and his younger sister, Darline, had a unique bond, given that, after their parents died, the lawmaker legally adopted and raised her. GRAHAM’S DEATH IGNITES GOP SCRAMBLE FOR SENATE SEAT AS TRUMP HINTS HE ALREADY HAS A FAVORITE Trump’s announcement comes as a scramble behind the scenes is taking place to fill Graham’s spot, and further, find a new GOP nominee to run in November to keep his seat in the hands of Republicans. McMaster is expected to announce his pick for the seat at 4 p.m. on Monday. He has so far kept quiet about who he would prefer. Fox News Digital did not immediately hear back from McMaster’s office on who he is eyeing in the interim. Meanwhile, a key Republican, Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., also wants to see Graham’s sister get the nod for his seat. GRAHAM REPORTEDLY REFUSED MEDICAL HELP BEFORE SCHEDULED TV APPEARANCE “Lindsey Graham’s sister, Darline Graham Nordone, would be a fantastic pick to serve out the remainder of the Senate term,” Scott said on X. “After speaking with Darline, there is no one better who understands Lindsey’s love for family, our state, and our country.” Scott, earlier in the day, floated both former Rep. Trey Gowdy and former Sen. Jim DeMint as possible replacements in the interim. He hoped that McMaster would “put a placeholder and let the voters decide” later during a forthcoming special election. “I think in the next several hours or next day or so we’ll figure out who that person is,” Scott said. “I love Trey Gowdy and Jim DeMint has been in the conversation.” “[Graham’s] sister would be a wonderful placeholder as well,” he continued. “So we’ve got lots of candidates who could hold the place so that the voters decide. And remember the election starts August the 11th in South Carolina, three weeks from now, we’ll have a primary process.” FROM ‘DISGRACE’ TO ‘FAMILY’: TRUMP’S REMARKABLE JOURNEY WITH LINDSEY GRAHAM Both Gowdy and DeMint have served in Congress — Gowdy in the House and DeMint in the Senate, preceding Scott. Graham Nordone, however, has never held public office. Multiple sources close to Scott, who chairs the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) told Fox News Digital that he is pushing McMaster to choose one of the three to effectively be a placeholder and not seek a six-year term in the Senate. While the appointment race nears its conclusion, the race for the GOP nomination to run in South Carolina is still wide open. Reps. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., and Ralph Norman, R-S.C., are already hinting at leaping into the special election, which is set for Aug. 11. Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., said that he would stay in the House, but the rest of the Palmetto State’s GOP congressional delegation have not said what their plans are.
Lindsey Graham left behind modest wealth despite decades in Washington’s elite circles
Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham served in Congress for more than three decades, but public disclosure estimates show he died with a modest net worth compared to many of his longtime Washington colleagues. The senator died with a net worth of about $1.4 million, with congressional disclosures from May showing a lower-end estimate of just over $600,000 and an upper estimate of a little more than $2.2 million, according to financial disclosures he filed in May. Despite serving in Congress for 31 years, Graham ranked at 294th in wealth among the 535 voting members of Congress, according to data from the Quiver Quantitative. Graham died at age 71, meaning that his net worth at the end was relatively normal. Individuals between the ages of 65 and 74 have an average net worth of $1.79 million and a median net worth of $409,900, according to Fidelity. LINDSEY GRAHAM, SOUTH CAROLINA SENATOR WHO ROSE FROM SMALL-TOWN ROOTS TO GOP POWER BROKER, DIES AT 71 Though transparency experts have long argued that allowing members of Congress to trade individual stocks enables them to abuse non-public information for personal gain, Graham largely avoided this criticism as almost all his assets were mutual funds or government bonds. As a senator, Graham earned an annual salary of $174,000. While Graham’s wealth was humble by D.C. standards, he still came a long way from where he started. FROM ‘DISGRACE’ TO ‘FAMILY’: TRUMP’S REMARKABLE JOURNEY WITH LINDSEY GRAHAM The senator spent his early life living with his sister and parents in a small room attached to their family restaurant in Central, South Carolina, which he helped run. The Graham family later moved into a mobile home. “It’s not a log cabin like Abe Lincoln, but he grew up in a mobile home, which is South Carolina’s equivalent of it, I guess,” Warren Mowry, Graham’s law school roommate, said in 2015. MEDICAL EXAMINER RELEASES PRELIMINARY FINDINGS IN LINDSEY GRAHAM’S DEATH AS DEATH CERTIFICATE REMAINS PENDING The senator’s parents died in quick succession after he left home for college, leaving him to care for his 13-year-old sister at the age of 22. Graham, an Air Force veteran, was the first in his family to attend university. Graham died Saturday night following a “brief and sudden illness” after a trip to Ukraine, according to his office. The D.C. medical examiner’s office has stated that his preliminary cause of death was a ruptured aorta caused by chronic heart disease. “I can’t die now. I still need to do the Russia sanctions, get Iran sorted out and do Israeli-Saudi normalization,” Graham joked shortly before his death, according to a source close to the lawmaker. Graham’s staff did not respond to a request for comment when reached by Fox News Digital on Monday.
Two years after Butler, threats against Trump keep assassination attempt in sharp focus
Two years after a gunman opened fire on Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, the security failures that nearly cost him his life remain under scrutiny as later alleged plots and reported threats keep presidential protection in the spotlight. Trump was rushed offstage by Secret Service agents after gunfire grazed his upper right ear during his July 13, 2024, rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The attack came months before Trump’s re-election and preceded a series of later alleged attempts and reported threats against his life. Two years ago Monday, Trump was mid-sentence, pointing to a chart on illegal immigration under the Biden administration, when gunshots pierced the air at his Butler rally. Authorities identified the gunman as Thomas Matthew Crooks, who fired from the roof of a nearby building. TWO MEN SHOT AT TRUMP’S BUTLER RALLY SUE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OVER SECRET SERVICE ‘PREVENTABLE FAILURES’ Secret Service agents tackled Trump to the ground. Moments later, as they rose to escort him to his motorcade, Trump emerged from the huddle. Trump raised his fist high in the air, and said “fight” three times, prompting the audience to erupt and chant “U-S-A!” as he exited. The gunman killed firefighter Corey Comperatore, who was shielding his family, and wounded two other men. A Secret Service sniper killed Crooks during the attack. A report from the Office of Inspector General, released earlier this month, found that the U.S. Secret Service “missed multiple opportunities” to prevent or disrupt the assassination attempt due to communication failures and other security lapses. AFTER THIRD ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT, DEBATE GROWS OVER WHETHER TRUMP ATTACK WARRANTS ANOTHER INVESTIGATION “The Secret Service’s overall lack of policy and processes coupled with limited intelligence sharing and poor collaboration and communication with protectee staff and state and local law enforcement set the conditions that led to missing opportunities to prevent and detect the attempted assassination,” the report said. It also found failure to warn Trump’s protective detail that Crooks had a rangefinder and a long gun and had climbed onto the roof of a nearby building. Trump’s security has remained under scrutiny since he returned to office, amid later alleged assassination attempts and reported threats against his life. In September 2024, authorities said Ryan Wesley Routh was arrested after a Secret Service agent spotted him with a rifle near Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, in what federal prosecutors later charged as an attempted assassination of Trump. ISRAEL SHARES INTELLIGENCE WARNING IRAN PLOTTED NEW ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT AGAINST TRUMP: REPORT In April of this year, there was an assassination attempt against Trump at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, where a shooter attempted to break into the ballroom. The renewed threats come amid escalating tensions with Iran, after the U.S. resumed strikes following the collapse of a ceasefire agreement. Reports this week said Israeli intelligence warned U.S. officials about a new Iranian plot to assassinate Trump. Trump warned Iran Friday that the United States would “decimate and destroy” the country if Tehran carried out an assassination attempt against him. U.S. Secret Service has not directly commented on the reports. Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment.
Trump birthright citizenship fight comes roaring back with ‘invaders’ play after Kavanaugh roadmap
EXCLUSIVE: Sen. Jim Banks will introduce legislation Monday aimed at ending birthright citizenship for children of illegal immigrants and birth tourists by defining them as children of “invaders” under federal law after a Supreme Court ruling last month dealt a setback to President Donald Trump’s executive order on the issue. Trump recently urged Senate Republicans to move faster on his legislative agenda, including ending birthright citizenship, telling them they were “not fighting hard enough,” Banks, R-Ind., recalled in a June 30 interview with Human Events. Banks told Fox News Digital he plans to introduce the Citizenship Act as soon as the Senate opens for business Monday afternoon – crafting it with a nod to Trump-appointed Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s concurrence in last month’s Trump v. Barbara case. Kavanaugh, concurring in the judgment and dissenting in part, said Trump’s order conflicted with federal birthright citizenship law but suggested Congress could amend that statute to create new exceptions. TRUMP’S ‘HERO’ JUSTICE OFFERS ROADMAP AFTER SUPREME COURT REJECTS BIRTHRIGHT ORDER The Citizenship Act would declare that children of statutory “invaders” are not entitled to birthright citizenship under the law and codify a 2025 executive order that cites the term. In its summary, Banks’ bill declares “any person who enters the United States without authorization or for the purpose of engaging in birth tourism is considered an invader…” and amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to exclude children of such “invaders.” Banks’ key use of “invaders” cites Trump’s executive order declaring illegal immigration across the southern border an “invasion,” while the bill notes the Barbara decision leaves that avenue open for Congress to crack down on. Without touching the constitutional amendment process or attempting to overturn any court ruling, the Citizenship Act will codify Trump’s declaration of “invasion” and amend federal law to revoke birthright citizenship from children of illegal immigrants under exceptions listed in the same case the Barbara ruling’s majority used as its precedent. SEN MORENO PUSHES CONGRESS TO CLARIFY BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP RULES USING HARRY REID’S OWN 1993 LEGISLATION Kavanaugh found that Trump’s order didn’t violate the 14th Amendment but did conflict with a federal statute on birthright citizenship passed in the spirit of the amendment conservatives said was intended mainly for freed slaves and their children Chief Justice John Roberts, appointed by George W. Bush, relied on the landmark 1898 U.S. v. Wong Kim Ark case to rule against Trump in Barbara and “guarantee citizenship to all children born in the United States and subject to its power” – but Banks’ bill would use that same case as precedent to secure an end to birthright citizenship for progeny of illegal immigrants and birth tourists. Justice Horace Gray – an appointee of Republican President Chester Arthur – ruled in Wong Kim Ark that those exceptions include diplomats’ kids, “enemies within” and those engaged in hostile occupation of U.S. territories who are not “bound to render obedience to the sovereign [U.S. government] whose domains are being invaded.” ‘WEAPONS OF MASS REPRODUCTION’: WATCHDOG UNVEILS ACTION PLAN TO CURB BIRTH TOURISM AFTER SUPREME COURT RULING By Roberts reaffirming Wong Kim Ark’s precedent with its exceptions, Banks’ bill would essentially use it against itself. “The Supreme Court’s birthright citizenship decision was an unprecedented assault on American sovereignty, and we must do whatever it takes to save our country,” Banks told Fox News Digital. “I’m leading the Citizenship Act to reverse the effects of this consequential ruling and ensure the millions of illegal aliens that invaded our country can’t continue to exploit our immigration system.” In U.S. v. CASA, a similar 2025 case that went against Trump, Obama-appointed Justice Sonia Sotomayor separately confirmed “children born of alien enemies in hostile occupation” do not qualify for birthright citizenship, while not taking the extra step to classify illegal immigrants as such “invaders” mentioned in the original ruling. Banks also makes a textual constitutional argument in his bill, writing that Article IV requires the feds to “protect each [state] against invasion” while Congress’ Article I power includes “establish[ing] a uniform rule of naturalization.” He also cited James Madison’s 1788 analysis that the Constitution vested Congress – not the states – with authority over naturalization through a uniform national rule. SIGN UP TO GET THE POLITICS NEWSLETTER The Citizenship Act lays out that some Mexican nationals view migration northward as a means of re-conquering territory the U.S. won during 1840s military hostilities finalized in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848 that established Texas and beyond as part of the U.S. It also points to Chinese birth tourism being encouraged directly by the CCP – which brings the birthright citizenship debate over what defines an invasion by a hostile government full circle. Banks’ bill argues those examples demonstrate that birthright citizenship has become intertwined with broader questions of national sovereignty and foreign influence.