The Senate Ethics Committee admonished Senator Lindsey Graham (RS.C.) on Friday for soliciting campaign contributions for fellow GOP candidates while at the US Capitol.
Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), chairman of the ethics committee, and Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.), vice chairman, wrote a letter to Graham on Thursday saying the investigation found the colleague “directly solicited” campaign contributions for Herschel. Walker, who lost a bid for one of Georgia’s Senate seats last year. Graham did it at least five times during his November 30, 2022 appearance on Fox News while standing in the Russell Senate Office Building.
“The committee is charged with upholding the ethical standards of the US Senate, a responsibility that is broader than and distinct from criminal law,” the pair wrote. “The public must be assured that members are using public resources only for official actions in the interest of the United States, not for partisan political activities.”
“Your actions have failed to meet these standards, affecting public trust and confidence in the United States Senate.”
Graham acknowledged the behavior in a later statement, and Coons and Lankford noted that they had reported their actions to the panel.
“It’s wrong. I am responsible,” he said. “I will try better in the future.”
Reprimand does not carry punishment.
The committee added that Graham also solicited donations for himself in October 2020 during an unscheduled interview in the Dirksen Senate Office Building, saying the episode also violated chamber rules. The incident was dismissed by the panel.
A public admonition from a rare ethics panel. The panel last issued a public warning letter in 2018 to Senator Robert Menendez (DN.J.) and had not previously issued one to Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) in 2012.