{"id":2512595,"date":"2025-11-19T21:22:01","date_gmt":"2025-11-20T02:22:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/lindsey-graham-eyes-big-payday-from-biden-era-phone-data-seizure\/"},"modified":"2025-11-19T21:23:22","modified_gmt":"2025-11-20T02:23:22","slug":"lindsey-graham-eyes-big-payday-from-biden-era-phone-data-seizure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/lindsey-graham-eyes-big-payday-from-biden-era-phone-data-seizure\/","title":{"rendered":"Lindsey Graham eyes big payday from Biden-era phone data seizure"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Flindsey-graham-eyes-big-payday-from-biden-era-phone-data-seizure%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2512595&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) is aggressively pursuing legal action against the Department of justice (DOJ) and Verizon for seizing his phone records without his knowledge during a Biden-era investigation lead by special counsel Jack Smith, known as the &#8220;Arctic Frost&#8221; inquiry into the January 6 events. Despite a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >newly passed law allowing affected senators<\/a> to sue over such data seizures, Graham plans to file lawsuits nonetheless, seeking damages well beyond the minimum $500,000 prescribed. He criticizes the DOJ and Verizon for violating his rights and vows to make the litigation impactful to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/newport-beach-doctor-charged-with-assaulting-male-patients\/\" title=\"Newport Beach Doctor Accused of Assaulting Male Patients\">prevent future occurrences<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The provision enabling senators to sue was quietly included in legislation to end a government shutdown, sparking ample backlash from other Republicans, including some senators whose records were also subpoenaed.Many GOP members oppose the provision&#8217;s requirement that taxpayers cover legal payouts, arguing responsibility should fall on the decision-makers and telecom companies. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) acknowledges criticism of the provision&#8217;s last-minute inclusion but defends its importance for accountability against surveillance abuses.<\/p>\n<p>Graham suggests the law should be broadened to allow not only senators but also private organizations, House members, and congressional staffers affected by the investigation to seek compensation. He also mentioned he might share part of any legal settlement he receives. The DOJ and Verizon have not commented on Graham&#8217;s intentions.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Lindsey Graham eyes big payday from Biden-era phone data seizure<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2398744\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/lindsey-graham\/\">Lindsey Graham<\/a> (R-SC) unleashed on GOP critics Wednesday, seeking to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3891534\/thune-senate-gop-backlash-arctic-frost-surveillance-provision\/\">repeal a new provision<\/a> bolstering the ability to&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3884983\/house-seeks-remove-senate-republican-provision-sue-doj-over-biden-investigations\/\"><\/a>sue the Justice Department for seizing senators&rsquo; phone records without their knowledge during a Biden-era investigation.<\/p>\n<p>Graham, whose records were subpoenaed in former special counsel Jack Smith&rsquo;s Jan. 6 &ldquo;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3889511\/what-to-know-arctic-frost-provision-house-senate-gop-loggerheads\/\">Arctic Frost<\/a>&rdquo; inquiry, intends to mount lawsuits with or without the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/psaki-clarifies-biden-stance-on-boycotts-in-ga\/\" title=\"Psaki clarifies Biden stance on boycotts in Ga.\">recently passed law<\/a> to seek hefty payouts from the DOJ and phone carrier Verizon beyond the minimum $500,000 stipulation. &nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/3892316\/mia-cathell-testifies-anti-ice-uprisings-senate-judiciary-hearing\/\">Mia Cathell testifies on anti-ICE uprisings at Senate judiciary hearing<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3892641\/durbin-pans-chuy-garcie-retirement-succession-scheme\/\">Top Senate Democrat pans Chuy Garc&iacute;a for retirement succession scheme<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3891988\/pennsylvania-group-primarying-john-fetterman-without-a-candidate\/\">Pennsylvania group announces it&#8217;s primarying John Fetterman<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;m going to sue Verizon, and I&rsquo;m going to sue the Department of Justice for violating my rights as a senator and as an individual,&rdquo; an animated Graham told reporters. &ldquo;The idea [that] I would settle this claim for $500,000 is silly. I am not. I&rsquo;m going to make it hurt as much as I possibly can so nobody will do this again.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Verizon did not respond to a request for comment, and the DOJ declined to comment.<\/p>\n<p>Graham has mounted what&rsquo;s become a largely solo venture to defend the measure in the court of public opinion, which was slipped into government shutdown-ending legislation by GOP and Democratic leadership in the Senate but has since created a firestorm among Republicans. Other GOP lawmakers in both chambers, including several of the eight Republican senators whose data was subpoenaed, have expressed support for repeal and vehemently opposed the legal payout that proponents say is a form of accountability.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Making the taxpayer pay for that, I don&rsquo;t understand why that&rsquo;s accountability,&rdquo; Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) said. &ldquo;People who need to be held accountable are the people who made the decision to do so and, frankly, the telecom companies.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The House was set to pass a bill Wednesday evening to repeal the provision that Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has steadfastly defended. Thune called the backlash to the last-minute addition a &ldquo;legitimate criticism&rdquo; but stood by the &ldquo;substance&rdquo; of the anti-surveillance language and pushed back on the notion Republicans were blindsided.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., introduces Adm. Kevin Lunday, acting commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, during a Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee hearing on the nomination of Lunday for Commandant of the Coast Guard, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo\/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&ldquo;I believe that you need to have some sort of accountability and consequence for that kind of weaponization,&rdquo; Thune told reporters. &ldquo;There were a lot of folks who were aware. But yeah, some weren&rsquo;t, and it was in the text that was shipped out, and we didn&rsquo;t end up voting on the text until over 24 hours later.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>For his part, Graham said the provision should be rewritten to expand the ability for impacted parties beyond the Senate, including private organizations, House lawmakers, and congressional staffers, who may have been affected by Smith&rsquo;s investigation to seek damages.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3891534\/thune-senate-gop-backlash-arctic-frost-surveillance-provision\/\">THUNE FIELDS SENATE GOP BACKLASH OVER &lsquo;ARCTIC FROST&rsquo; SURVEILLANCE PROVISION<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Graham indicated he would give away an unspecified portion of any legal winnings. &nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I would give some of it away, and I would probably keep some of it. But I don&rsquo;t know. I don&rsquo;t have any money,&rdquo; the fourth-term senator said. &ldquo;Is it wrong for me to sue? Is it wrong for any American to sue the government if they violated your rights, including me?&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><em>David Sivak contributed to this report.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Graham seeks payout over Biden-era phone data seizure<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3108,"featured_media":2512596,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/AP25323661244513.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[32502,32283,67391,4325],"class_list":["post-2512595","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-biden-administration","tag-lindsey-graham","tag-phone-data-seizure","tag-privacy"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/AP25323661244513.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2512595","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3108"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2512595"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2512595\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2512599,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2512595\/revisions\/2512599"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2512596"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2512595"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2512595"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2512595"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}