Oct. 23, 2026
Three Men Claim Late Republican Senator Lindsay Graham Paid Them For Sex In Newly Released Video
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RSS Feed With less than two weeks before the midterm elections, a left wing online group has released a 30 minute video that features three men who claim the late Senator Lindsay Graham paid them for sex; one of them says he was just 17 at the time. Graham suddenly passed away over the summer and his sister, Darline, is in a very tight race to retain her brother’s senate seat. Some conservatives have dismissed the video as an “open secret” and an attempt to distract South Carolina voters. One former lawmaker says it highlights something more serious, saying the secrets our leaders keep “comprise them in the most dangerous ways for the security, safety, and prosperity of our nation.”
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
00:00:02
Speaker 1: Hey there folks, it is Friday, October 23rd. Some are calling it a bombshell, some are calling it an October surprise, and some are calling it old news. Whatever you call it, is it okay to out a dead man? And with that, welcome to this episode of Amy and TJ Robes. There are three men who have come forward and said that Lindsey Graham paid them for sex.
00:00:28
Speaker 2: Yes, and they waited to do this until after Lindsey Graham was no longer here to be able to react or put anything into context or, yes, even deny that any of that took place.
00:00:38
Speaker 1: Which he has always denied that he's gay.
00:00:40
Speaker 2: He has. He has, repeatedly and often and very strongly so. And his votes in Congress would suggest, yes, he was not even a supporter of gay rights.
00:00:51
Speaker 1: Suggests, not at all. And that's fine. He can have how he feels in robes. He can be whatever he wants to be behind closed doors. There is something about this that feels awful and irrelevant in terms of a larger conversation we need to have about his legislative record or whatever. This is one, let the man rest in peace. It's just robes. I don't know what politics... All the gloves are off. There are no rules anymore to this thing.
00:01:25
Speaker 2: It's pretty awful and underhanded and a little blow. Not that, look, no one should have their sexuality talked about or broadcast to other people without your consent. That's a personal thing that's, I believe, not something that is anyone else's business. However, this takes it to another level because there are claims that not only was he gay, but that he paid for sex and that at one point he paid for sex with someone who was underage. Those are the allegations, again, that he cannot defend.
00:02:02
Speaker 1: Defend at all. So we're getting this information now because, yes, a left-wing online news channel, Robes, Young Turks Network put this out. It's a 30-minute, I guess a little documentary they call it, but it's a 30-minute video they've put online. And the title of it is Closetocracy, Closetocracy. And you do have these three men in it where, as you mentioned, the 17-year-old paid various amounts, these three men claim. Not a lot, up to $ 160.
00:02:30
Speaker 2: Yeah, I think it was not much at all.
00:02:34
Speaker 1: That one got. One of the men even said he didn't realize who Lindsey Graham was until he saw him on TV months ago.
00:02:40
Speaker 2: I was back in 2016, right?
00:02:43
Speaker 1: Salman, when he was running for president, I think he said, and that's when he realized who he was. And again, robed, it's fine. And that's his business if he wants to tell it. But he has publicly and strongly, I think it's fair to say, denied that he's gay anytime it ever came up.
00:02:59
Speaker 2: Yeah, the New York Times actually republished a quote of his back from 2010 when he did a sit-down interview with the president. With the newspaper, and this was his quote. This was Lindsey Graham. I know it's really going to upset a lot of gay men. I'm sure hundreds of them are going to be jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge, but I ain't available. I ain't gay.
00:03:23
Speaker 1: Sorry. Now, to a certain degree, that was a good way to handle that, right? A little humor in there. It was a little edgy, talking about jumping off bridges and whatnot. But it was a way to push back.
00:03:37
Speaker 2: The Golden Gate, San Francisco.
00:03:39
Speaker 1: Yes. Just a way to push back and just leave me alone about it. Fine. Do your thing. Robes, the allegations here now, there are allegations, I guess, Robes, of criminality. Exactly. So not an allegation of being gay. Right. It seems odd to say it that way. But either way, he's not here to answer it. And what really, really... got this thing going in a different way, Robes, is that we started hearing from a lot of conservatives yesterday online talking about this as old news.
00:04:11
Speaker 2: Yes, they called it the worst kept secret in D.C. And I think that's fair to say anyone who has been among lawmakers or in D.C., anyone who knows Lindsey Graham, I actually started out in South Carolina. And so, yes, these rumors have always, always been circulated around Lindsey Graham.
00:04:31
Speaker 1: And especially as a guy who's never been married and also never been attached to anybody that we know of.
00:04:36
Speaker 2: There's never been any, I mean, and he's been in politics for decades and there's never been a girlfriend or a love interest of any kind, at least publicly, that we were aware of. And certainly for somebody who is as visible or was as visible of a senator as he was, and certainly someone who ran for president, That is unusual.
00:04:59
Speaker 1: I think they even joked, Robes. It might have even been him that if he were to become president, right?
00:05:07
Speaker 2: His sister would be first lady.
00:05:09
Speaker 1: Yeah. Yes. Fine. Knock yourself out. Do your thing. There is a wrongness to what they've done with this video.
00:05:20
Speaker 2: It feels awful.
00:05:21
Speaker 1: Yeah.
00:05:22
Speaker 2: Because if you're going to accuse him of a criminal act... Of paying for sex and of having sex with a minor, then do it while there actually can be an investigation where he gets to defend himself and he gets to actually, if this is BS, sue him. these folks for defamation. So interesting, they wait until after he's dead and they can't necessarily be sued by him to come out, put their faces to this story and call him out.
00:05:53
Speaker 1: And we should say, yes, they have put their names and their faces to this story, but Robes, it reeks of politics.
00:06:01
Speaker 2: The timing, 100%. On the backs of.
00:06:04
Speaker 1: What we saw in Ohio with that ad that is still so controversial. Rose, it's just how low can you go? How low can... I mean, what are we doing here now that now in South Carolina it does appear that Lindsey Graham's sister Darlene is in a little more trouble than they thought. In this race that it looks like she could lose this thing, but it's tight enough. Democrats know they have a An opening there, and then here this comes. Vivek is down seven, eight points, and here comes this ad. It's just, this is ugly stuff.
00:06:49
Speaker 2: It's a really awful part of American politics. And we say this every election year and certainly midterms and presidential years. It can't get worse. It can't get uglier. And somehow it does. I don't know how, but things that would have normally been off limits or taboo, suddenly now let's bring people's mothers out who left their children to be with a husband who's accused of raping said children. Let's bring her out and disparage her own daughter. Let's now disparage a dead man's sexual orientation and and accuse him of criminal acts from a senator who actually, his record would suggest the opposite. So now you're like, wow, who was this person? Who was Lindsey Graham? Was he lying to us this whole time? Was he doing things that, in private, completely and totally belied who he was publicly? And what does that say about his sister? Did she know? I mean, this is awful.
00:07:48
Speaker 1: And you know, there's something you just said. There's an explanation that we got to it from, of all people, Marjorie Taylor Greene.
00:07:55
Speaker 2: Right?
00:07:56
Speaker 1: Was he fooling us the whole time? We're going to read what was a pretty compelling Twitter post from her about this whole thing. But Andrew Colvett, Robes, the Turning Point USA spokesperson, this is the person who, yes, Charlie Kirk's organization, put out a statement that got, I said a statement, he just commented on the video that went out. And Robes, this one got a lot of attention.
00:08:18
Speaker 2: Yeah, it was a little shocking, frankly. He wrote, Dear Democrats, This is why we called him Lady Graham. This isn't an October surprise. We've known this for a year. And blaming his sister for the fact that Lindsay was a poorly closeted gay man is only going to backfire. No one cares.
00:08:38
Speaker 1: Poorly closeted.
00:08:40
Speaker 2: And look, if it was just, and this could, I said this from the beginning, like I see this backfiring because there's a, to attack a man who can't, who is no longer here to defend himself is just, to.
00:08:51
Speaker 1: Me, awful. For the sake of attacking your sister, right?
00:08:54
Speaker 2: Correct, correct. That is awful, terrible. But also just outing somebody who's dead is terrible and awful. The only thing that is at issue is, was any of what he did criminal?
00:09:10
Speaker 1: And then what do you do? How do you hold them accountable for that? You can't. At this point.
00:09:14
Speaker 2: So you blame his sister?
00:09:15
Speaker 1: What's their motivation? The three men. I mean, getting their story out. Look, are they... No, they're not claiming to be victims. I mean, the 17-year-old... They chose it.
00:09:23
Speaker 2: They were paid.
00:09:24
Speaker 1: Yeah.
00:09:25
Speaker 2: The 17-year-old would have been by law, correct?
00:09:27
Speaker 1: So what are the other two? Like, I'm going to set the record straight to what? What is... What is the goal? What is the aim? What is the what?
00:09:36
Speaker 2: To make sure that a Democrat wins that seat, not a Republican.
00:09:40
Speaker 1: Do you think that's their motivation?
00:09:42
Speaker 2: Yes, because Lindsey Graham... And look, I do think I could understand, especially, was it Corey who said he didn't realize who he had sex with, who he was paid to have sex with until he saw the 2016 presidential and he saw, oh my God, that's the guy. But if you think about it, if you're a gay man and... you're an out gay man, to know that this senator was doing something according to them in his private life and then publicly voting against legislation that would protect your rights as an LGBTQ plus member That would be maybe motivation to say, yes, that's what I would think. Because when you have Graham, who, yes, was a vocal opponent of same-sex marriage, he opposed adding... the definition of hate crimes to include sexual orientation, gender identity. He also voted against repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell. So, yes, when you have that man who publicly voted against your rights as a gay individual, you might feel motivated to tell the world who he actually was.
00:10:50
Speaker 1: That's true. He didn't just vote. I mean, he has been a vocal proponent, and he was one of the most high-profile members of the Senate, yes. This guy, you know something about him and he's, it's offensive. That's personally offensive that, oh, you want me here behind closed doors and then you'll go out there and try to hurt my whole community. That would be offensive.
00:11:12
Speaker 2: That would probably be the motivation if I had to guess.
00:11:14
Speaker 1: We did hear from one South Carolina Republican, William Timmons, who said he was a very close friend to Lindsey Graham saying here, quote, over the last eight years, I spent 10 weeks traveling with him and we played more than 75 rounds of golf. This is the same man I could not convince to spend $ 50 replacing his 20-year-old cargo shorts. After 45 years of service to South Carolina and our country, he deserves better than the left spreading disgraceful lies about a man who was no longer here to defend himself. The willingness to stoop to homophobic attacks for political gain says more about them than it ever will about Lindsay. Please break that down for me.
00:12:00
Speaker 2: I'm confused. I think he's trying to say he was a conservative in every way. He was frugal. He was a good man who.
00:12:10
Speaker 2: Who he's saying right here, it seems as though he's saying he was not gay. It didn't sound like he was believing that Lindsey Graham was gay.
00:12:19
Speaker 1: Help me with the $ 50 cargo shorts line.
00:12:21
Speaker 2: I think it was just the, that was my thought, that he was just trying to explain his character, that he was a frugal man, he was a disciplined man.
00:12:28
Speaker 1: Which means what? He wouldn't spend $ 160 for sex? Yes. That's the argument?
00:12:33
Speaker 2: I think that's what he's saying.
00:12:37
Speaker 1: It's weird.
00:12:38
Speaker 2: It's a bizarre statement.
00:12:39
Speaker 1: It is.
00:12:40
Speaker 2: It's a bizarre statement.
00:12:41
Speaker 1: He wants to defend them, but knows he can only go so far.
00:12:45
Speaker 2: It's very strange.
00:12:46
Speaker 1: It's a strange one. Okay, so we wanted to get to Marjorie Taylor Greene here. And, Robes, let's break this one down. Marjorie Taylor Greene, of course, who split with MAGA, if you will, after getting into a dust-up with the president, and she's no longer in Congress. She resigned. But, Robes, she's been in that house. She's been in that house that we can't get into. And she saw all the inner workings, and now she's coming out, and it sounds like she is... She's got a story to tell, and some of this rope is pretty compelling and fascinating.
00:13:13
Speaker 2: Yes. She wrote, stay with me on this. The worst kept secret in Washington, D.C. came out today because three brave men came out and told the truth, and it doesn't matter if it is after he's dead. Brave? Yes, brave. Why are they brave? They had to go on camera and tell intimate details of their personal lives to the world. That is extremely difficult to do. Yes, it's brave and stressful. They walked into the public square, opening themselves to the opinions of the entire world. No matter your opinion on the issue, they took a courageous leap in coming forward. If you are critical, would you go on camera and tell your secrets to the entire world? I would bet a lot of money you wouldn't.
00:13:58
Speaker 1: That part, she gets going. Some of what she is saying, I understand. I do, Ro. I think it takes a lot. Sit on camera. I was paid for sex. I mean, I don't know what the motivation is, but that's not an easy thing, I would argue, to do for anybody.
00:14:14
Speaker 2: I would agree. I would absolutely agree. But she goes on to say, okay, but there is more to this. Because this is the world I saw up close in Washington. I saw behind the curtain and saw all the wizards. Everyone in the highest levels of power in Washington, D.C. are keeping secrets that would destroy their entire lives. And that's exactly why they have power. Not because they are so smart or qualified or or the best choice for leadership. I mean, really, if you think our best and brightest are in charge, then do some critical thinking and look at the pathetic state of our debt, our dollar, and how our government is run and the outcome that affects your life. Their secrets are the only reason these people rise to the top because their secrets are not secrets. We all knew Lindsey Graham was gay. Everyone did. Their secrets are levers of control. keeps them in line, makes them a team player, and will make them fight the hardest on issues that don't make sense in order to keep their secrets just that.
00:15:22
Speaker 1: Secrets. That reads.
00:15:24
Speaker 2: It totally reads.
00:15:26
Speaker 1: That reads. And of course, a lot of people say, well, duh, and I understand that. Robes, that just is, she's pulling the curtain back a little bit. Everybody up there has a career-ending secret that is known among that group. And so the reason they will go out there and fight and sound ridiculous, and we're all going, why would he support that? Why would he do that? Because somebody's got the dirt on all of them, and it keeps them in line. Thank you, Marjorie Taylor Greene.
00:15:55
Speaker 2: It's so true.
00:15:55
Speaker 1: She just laid it out in a very succinct way.
00:15:57
Speaker 2: Wouldn't you say that's true in the top tier of most industries?
00:16:02
Speaker 1: Robes, names and faces are coming to your mind right now over at that network. Yes. That you can name right now. If I just open my mouth and say this one thing right now, they're done. They're done. They're done.
00:16:15
Speaker 2: I have thought about it because we have been at the highest levels of our industry. And I am thinking about almost everyone who's in a position of power. And I know things about every one of those people that could end their careers.
00:16:27
Speaker 1: End it right now.
00:16:28
Speaker 2: End their careers. And so, yes, everyone who sits up there and points the finger are hypocrites.
00:16:36
Speaker 1: Hypocrites. All right.
00:16:38
Speaker 2: So Marjorie Taylor Greene. Hell yeah. Let's continue. So everyone is arguing about how this is old news. Why now? Or arguing about being gay and gay issues. Or arguing because that's what everyone does on the internet. Just argue with each other and with bots about issues they don't have the real truth on, but throw out their strongest opinion anyways. I'm here to tell you the granular issue you need to dial in on and block out the rest of the noise. Three gay men just bravely pulled back the curtain and tried to teach you all the most important lessons America needs to learn. It's this. America's most powerful leaders keep secrets that comprise America's most powerful leaders keep secrets that comprise them in the most dangerous ways for the security of safety, and prosperity of our nation.
00:17:35
Speaker 1: Babe, that's a hell of a line. It's hurting the country because they're not thinking for themselves or doing what is right. They're doing what they're told to do because they don't want their own secrets to get out. I hope that actually makes sense.
00:17:47
Speaker 2: When someone has the goods on you, they have power over you.
00:17:50
Speaker 1: Babe, this is Marjorie Taylor Greene put together a hell of a post here. And again, a lot of people look, well, I assume that's what's going on. That makes sense. That's what's going on. But to have someone who was in there lay it out in such a way I give her credit for. But stay here. We'll tell you how she wrapped up that long post. Yes, we'll read you the last chunk of it. And you need to hear what one of Lindsey Graham's accusers said in a post six years ago. Stay here.
00:18:28
Speaker 2: Welcome back, everyone, to Amy and TJ. We are talking about this 30-minute video that was released yesterday by a left-wing organization that had three men come forward with their names, their faces, and their stories saying that the late Senator Lindsey Graham paid them for sex. That included a 17-year-old. And many, many people have weighed in. And a lot of folks are saying, at least the Republicans, the conservative side, saying this is the worst kept secret in DC. We've all known about this, but Marjorie Taylor Greene brought it home and why that secret, that worst kept secret actually is an important thing for all of us to understand how that plays into the power structure of how DC works.
00:19:16
Speaker 1: It does. It does make a bigger point. This isn't just about one man. This isn't about his sexuality. This is about what you're seeing play out here. And what we saw in a several decades long career in Congress is a man who may be was not voting his conscience. We saw a man, maybe, who at times, Robes, we were shocked at a guy that we know is sharp, and the way he was brought up, he gives a damn about that state, to how he just goes off and left feel in blind support sometimes of some issues, or some people or some presidents. She's explaining this in such a way. Every single one of them have a secret they don't want to get out. Yes. The way they keep it from getting out is to stay in line.
00:20:00
Speaker 2: Yes. And she's saying that's dangerous. So her last paragraph, she brings it home. That's the whole point. I tried my hardest to fight the entire system on both sides of the aisle and couldn't beat it because you all kept voting these people back into office and back into power. By the way, I always co-sponsored the term limit bill. And no matter who is in charge, Pelosi, McCarthy, or Johnson, Dem or Republican, that bill never ever got even close to getting a vote on the House floor. So the question for you, the American people, is are you able to learn the lesson? And if so, what exactly are you going to do about it? Ask yourself, what are you voting for? donating to, volunteering for, and are you really satisfied with the outcome election cycle after election cycle? No, I don't think anybody is.
00:20:57
Speaker 1: Give her credit for that one. That was just, that was an interesting read from somebody who was in there. It doesn't seem too politically motivated. She's not even going after anybody necessarily in one party or the other. Bro, she just gave a little insight.
00:21:08
Speaker 2: No, and term limits, I mean, many people have been beating this drum If we don't have career politicians, then they do dip in and have it be an act of public service, then go back to the private sector life. But if you're constantly just trying to get reelected to get more power, obviously that is just ripe for corruption.
00:21:31
Speaker 1: It's tough in the House, babe. As soon as you get elected, you're running again.
00:21:34
Speaker 2: It's two years, right?
00:21:35
Speaker 1: It's a two-year term. You get sworn in in January. The next year, you're going to be up for election again. Yeah. They're constantly running. Now, the only argument I ever heard against term limits, there are some seasoned good guys and good gals who just know that chamber, and you would hate to lose that leadership sometimes.
00:21:57
Speaker 2: Correct.
00:21:58
Speaker 1: But that's the only one I got.
00:21:59
Speaker 2: That makes sense.
00:22:00
Speaker 1: That's the only argument I got.
00:22:02
Speaker 2: And then the other very interesting part. of what's coming out from this video, one of the men who came forward in this video, people have found you can go back to 2020, six years ago, and there was a post that clearly implicated Lindsey Graham.
00:22:25
Speaker 1: I guess he could have been talking about somebody else. It's possible.
00:22:29
Speaker 2: Well, it's the same accuser.
00:22:31
Speaker 1: Yep.
00:22:32
Speaker 2: And who is accusing Lindsey Graham of paying for sex with him. Six years prior.
00:22:38
Speaker 1: Just trying to be open-minded about it.
00:22:40
Speaker 2: This was the Post. There is a homophobic Republican senator who is no better than Trump who keeps passing legislation that is damaging to the LGBT and minority communities. Every sex worker I know has been hired by this man, wondering if enough of us spoke out... if that could get him out of office. Wow.
00:23:05
Speaker 1: If enough of us spoke out, how many are there?
00:23:11
Speaker 2: Look, three came forward, but if it's true.
00:23:15
Speaker 1: What kind of statement is that? Every sex worker I know has been hired by this man. The man, rest in peace. Yes. If you want to bring him up on criminal charges, what are you going to do now?
00:23:27
Speaker 2: What are you going to do?
00:23:28
Speaker 1: Um.
00:23:29
Speaker 2: And Lindsey Graham's sister, by the way, has not.
00:23:31
Speaker 1: Sorry.
00:23:32
Speaker 2: Yes. Her name is Darlene. Darlene. Darlene Graham has not her campaign. They have not addressed this at all. Do they have to?
00:23:42
Speaker 1: I hope she addresses it as a sister and not as a politician, because as a sister, a family member, you'd be pissed. Give me the first microphone and I got a statement to make. No need to write it. Right. Kind of if it comes off that way. One thing, if it comes off as defensive or very polished or politically, it might read differently, baby. But are they going to hold this against her? I mean, she's in enough trouble in that race on her own before all this. Does she get sympathy or do people get turned off by seeing grandma? on election day.
00:24:13
Speaker 2: I think it's going to be up to her, but I think she needs to say something. And we will be waiting for it. We will let you know if we hear something. But in the meantime, we always appreciate you listening to us. I'm Amy Robach, alongside TJ Holmes. We'll talk to you soon.
Speaker 1: Hey there folks, it is Friday, October 23rd. Some are calling it a bombshell, some are calling it an October surprise, and some are calling it old news. Whatever you call it, is it okay to out a dead man? And with that, welcome to this episode of Amy and TJ Robes. There are three men who have come forward and said that Lindsey Graham paid them for sex.
00:00:28
Speaker 2: Yes, and they waited to do this until after Lindsey Graham was no longer here to be able to react or put anything into context or, yes, even deny that any of that took place.
00:00:38
Speaker 1: Which he has always denied that he's gay.
00:00:40
Speaker 2: He has. He has, repeatedly and often and very strongly so. And his votes in Congress would suggest, yes, he was not even a supporter of gay rights.
00:00:51
Speaker 1: Suggests, not at all. And that's fine. He can have how he feels in robes. He can be whatever he wants to be behind closed doors. There is something about this that feels awful and irrelevant in terms of a larger conversation we need to have about his legislative record or whatever. This is one, let the man rest in peace. It's just robes. I don't know what politics... All the gloves are off. There are no rules anymore to this thing.
00:01:25
Speaker 2: It's pretty awful and underhanded and a little blow. Not that, look, no one should have their sexuality talked about or broadcast to other people without your consent. That's a personal thing that's, I believe, not something that is anyone else's business. However, this takes it to another level because there are claims that not only was he gay, but that he paid for sex and that at one point he paid for sex with someone who was underage. Those are the allegations, again, that he cannot defend.
00:02:02
Speaker 1: Defend at all. So we're getting this information now because, yes, a left-wing online news channel, Robes, Young Turks Network put this out. It's a 30-minute, I guess a little documentary they call it, but it's a 30-minute video they've put online. And the title of it is Closetocracy, Closetocracy. And you do have these three men in it where, as you mentioned, the 17-year-old paid various amounts, these three men claim. Not a lot, up to $ 160.
00:02:30
Speaker 2: Yeah, I think it was not much at all.
00:02:34
Speaker 1: That one got. One of the men even said he didn't realize who Lindsey Graham was until he saw him on TV months ago.
00:02:40
Speaker 2: I was back in 2016, right?
00:02:43
Speaker 1: Salman, when he was running for president, I think he said, and that's when he realized who he was. And again, robed, it's fine. And that's his business if he wants to tell it. But he has publicly and strongly, I think it's fair to say, denied that he's gay anytime it ever came up.
00:02:59
Speaker 2: Yeah, the New York Times actually republished a quote of his back from 2010 when he did a sit-down interview with the president. With the newspaper, and this was his quote. This was Lindsey Graham. I know it's really going to upset a lot of gay men. I'm sure hundreds of them are going to be jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge, but I ain't available. I ain't gay.
00:03:23
Speaker 1: Sorry. Now, to a certain degree, that was a good way to handle that, right? A little humor in there. It was a little edgy, talking about jumping off bridges and whatnot. But it was a way to push back.
00:03:37
Speaker 2: The Golden Gate, San Francisco.
00:03:39
Speaker 1: Yes. Just a way to push back and just leave me alone about it. Fine. Do your thing. Robes, the allegations here now, there are allegations, I guess, Robes, of criminality. Exactly. So not an allegation of being gay. Right. It seems odd to say it that way. But either way, he's not here to answer it. And what really, really... got this thing going in a different way, Robes, is that we started hearing from a lot of conservatives yesterday online talking about this as old news.
00:04:11
Speaker 2: Yes, they called it the worst kept secret in D.C. And I think that's fair to say anyone who has been among lawmakers or in D.C., anyone who knows Lindsey Graham, I actually started out in South Carolina. And so, yes, these rumors have always, always been circulated around Lindsey Graham.
00:04:31
Speaker 1: And especially as a guy who's never been married and also never been attached to anybody that we know of.
00:04:36
Speaker 2: There's never been any, I mean, and he's been in politics for decades and there's never been a girlfriend or a love interest of any kind, at least publicly, that we were aware of. And certainly for somebody who is as visible or was as visible of a senator as he was, and certainly someone who ran for president, That is unusual.
00:04:59
Speaker 1: I think they even joked, Robes. It might have even been him that if he were to become president, right?
00:05:07
Speaker 2: His sister would be first lady.
00:05:09
Speaker 1: Yeah. Yes. Fine. Knock yourself out. Do your thing. There is a wrongness to what they've done with this video.
00:05:20
Speaker 2: It feels awful.
00:05:21
Speaker 1: Yeah.
00:05:22
Speaker 2: Because if you're going to accuse him of a criminal act... Of paying for sex and of having sex with a minor, then do it while there actually can be an investigation where he gets to defend himself and he gets to actually, if this is BS, sue him. these folks for defamation. So interesting, they wait until after he's dead and they can't necessarily be sued by him to come out, put their faces to this story and call him out.
00:05:53
Speaker 1: And we should say, yes, they have put their names and their faces to this story, but Robes, it reeks of politics.
00:06:01
Speaker 2: The timing, 100%. On the backs of.
00:06:04
Speaker 1: What we saw in Ohio with that ad that is still so controversial. Rose, it's just how low can you go? How low can... I mean, what are we doing here now that now in South Carolina it does appear that Lindsey Graham's sister Darlene is in a little more trouble than they thought. In this race that it looks like she could lose this thing, but it's tight enough. Democrats know they have a An opening there, and then here this comes. Vivek is down seven, eight points, and here comes this ad. It's just, this is ugly stuff.
00:06:49
Speaker 2: It's a really awful part of American politics. And we say this every election year and certainly midterms and presidential years. It can't get worse. It can't get uglier. And somehow it does. I don't know how, but things that would have normally been off limits or taboo, suddenly now let's bring people's mothers out who left their children to be with a husband who's accused of raping said children. Let's bring her out and disparage her own daughter. Let's now disparage a dead man's sexual orientation and and accuse him of criminal acts from a senator who actually, his record would suggest the opposite. So now you're like, wow, who was this person? Who was Lindsey Graham? Was he lying to us this whole time? Was he doing things that, in private, completely and totally belied who he was publicly? And what does that say about his sister? Did she know? I mean, this is awful.
00:07:48
Speaker 1: And you know, there's something you just said. There's an explanation that we got to it from, of all people, Marjorie Taylor Greene.
00:07:55
Speaker 2: Right?
00:07:56
Speaker 1: Was he fooling us the whole time? We're going to read what was a pretty compelling Twitter post from her about this whole thing. But Andrew Colvett, Robes, the Turning Point USA spokesperson, this is the person who, yes, Charlie Kirk's organization, put out a statement that got, I said a statement, he just commented on the video that went out. And Robes, this one got a lot of attention.
00:08:18
Speaker 2: Yeah, it was a little shocking, frankly. He wrote, Dear Democrats, This is why we called him Lady Graham. This isn't an October surprise. We've known this for a year. And blaming his sister for the fact that Lindsay was a poorly closeted gay man is only going to backfire. No one cares.
00:08:38
Speaker 1: Poorly closeted.
00:08:40
Speaker 2: And look, if it was just, and this could, I said this from the beginning, like I see this backfiring because there's a, to attack a man who can't, who is no longer here to defend himself is just, to.
00:08:51
Speaker 1: Me, awful. For the sake of attacking your sister, right?
00:08:54
Speaker 2: Correct, correct. That is awful, terrible. But also just outing somebody who's dead is terrible and awful. The only thing that is at issue is, was any of what he did criminal?
00:09:10
Speaker 1: And then what do you do? How do you hold them accountable for that? You can't. At this point.
00:09:14
Speaker 2: So you blame his sister?
00:09:15
Speaker 1: What's their motivation? The three men. I mean, getting their story out. Look, are they... No, they're not claiming to be victims. I mean, the 17-year-old... They chose it.
00:09:23
Speaker 2: They were paid.
00:09:24
Speaker 1: Yeah.
00:09:25
Speaker 2: The 17-year-old would have been by law, correct?
00:09:27
Speaker 1: So what are the other two? Like, I'm going to set the record straight to what? What is... What is the goal? What is the aim? What is the what?
00:09:36
Speaker 2: To make sure that a Democrat wins that seat, not a Republican.
00:09:40
Speaker 1: Do you think that's their motivation?
00:09:42
Speaker 2: Yes, because Lindsey Graham... And look, I do think I could understand, especially, was it Corey who said he didn't realize who he had sex with, who he was paid to have sex with until he saw the 2016 presidential and he saw, oh my God, that's the guy. But if you think about it, if you're a gay man and... you're an out gay man, to know that this senator was doing something according to them in his private life and then publicly voting against legislation that would protect your rights as an LGBTQ plus member That would be maybe motivation to say, yes, that's what I would think. Because when you have Graham, who, yes, was a vocal opponent of same-sex marriage, he opposed adding... the definition of hate crimes to include sexual orientation, gender identity. He also voted against repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell. So, yes, when you have that man who publicly voted against your rights as a gay individual, you might feel motivated to tell the world who he actually was.
00:10:50
Speaker 1: That's true. He didn't just vote. I mean, he has been a vocal proponent, and he was one of the most high-profile members of the Senate, yes. This guy, you know something about him and he's, it's offensive. That's personally offensive that, oh, you want me here behind closed doors and then you'll go out there and try to hurt my whole community. That would be offensive.
00:11:12
Speaker 2: That would probably be the motivation if I had to guess.
00:11:14
Speaker 1: We did hear from one South Carolina Republican, William Timmons, who said he was a very close friend to Lindsey Graham saying here, quote, over the last eight years, I spent 10 weeks traveling with him and we played more than 75 rounds of golf. This is the same man I could not convince to spend $ 50 replacing his 20-year-old cargo shorts. After 45 years of service to South Carolina and our country, he deserves better than the left spreading disgraceful lies about a man who was no longer here to defend himself. The willingness to stoop to homophobic attacks for political gain says more about them than it ever will about Lindsay. Please break that down for me.
00:12:00
Speaker 2: I'm confused. I think he's trying to say he was a conservative in every way. He was frugal. He was a good man who.
00:12:10
Speaker 2: Who he's saying right here, it seems as though he's saying he was not gay. It didn't sound like he was believing that Lindsey Graham was gay.
00:12:19
Speaker 1: Help me with the $ 50 cargo shorts line.
00:12:21
Speaker 2: I think it was just the, that was my thought, that he was just trying to explain his character, that he was a frugal man, he was a disciplined man.
00:12:28
Speaker 1: Which means what? He wouldn't spend $ 160 for sex? Yes. That's the argument?
00:12:33
Speaker 2: I think that's what he's saying.
00:12:37
Speaker 1: It's weird.
00:12:38
Speaker 2: It's a bizarre statement.
00:12:39
Speaker 1: It is.
00:12:40
Speaker 2: It's a bizarre statement.
00:12:41
Speaker 1: He wants to defend them, but knows he can only go so far.
00:12:45
Speaker 2: It's very strange.
00:12:46
Speaker 1: It's a strange one. Okay, so we wanted to get to Marjorie Taylor Greene here. And, Robes, let's break this one down. Marjorie Taylor Greene, of course, who split with MAGA, if you will, after getting into a dust-up with the president, and she's no longer in Congress. She resigned. But, Robes, she's been in that house. She's been in that house that we can't get into. And she saw all the inner workings, and now she's coming out, and it sounds like she is... She's got a story to tell, and some of this rope is pretty compelling and fascinating.
00:13:13
Speaker 2: Yes. She wrote, stay with me on this. The worst kept secret in Washington, D.C. came out today because three brave men came out and told the truth, and it doesn't matter if it is after he's dead. Brave? Yes, brave. Why are they brave? They had to go on camera and tell intimate details of their personal lives to the world. That is extremely difficult to do. Yes, it's brave and stressful. They walked into the public square, opening themselves to the opinions of the entire world. No matter your opinion on the issue, they took a courageous leap in coming forward. If you are critical, would you go on camera and tell your secrets to the entire world? I would bet a lot of money you wouldn't.
00:13:58
Speaker 1: That part, she gets going. Some of what she is saying, I understand. I do, Ro. I think it takes a lot. Sit on camera. I was paid for sex. I mean, I don't know what the motivation is, but that's not an easy thing, I would argue, to do for anybody.
00:14:14
Speaker 2: I would agree. I would absolutely agree. But she goes on to say, okay, but there is more to this. Because this is the world I saw up close in Washington. I saw behind the curtain and saw all the wizards. Everyone in the highest levels of power in Washington, D.C. are keeping secrets that would destroy their entire lives. And that's exactly why they have power. Not because they are so smart or qualified or or the best choice for leadership. I mean, really, if you think our best and brightest are in charge, then do some critical thinking and look at the pathetic state of our debt, our dollar, and how our government is run and the outcome that affects your life. Their secrets are the only reason these people rise to the top because their secrets are not secrets. We all knew Lindsey Graham was gay. Everyone did. Their secrets are levers of control. keeps them in line, makes them a team player, and will make them fight the hardest on issues that don't make sense in order to keep their secrets just that.
00:15:22
Speaker 1: Secrets. That reads.
00:15:24
Speaker 2: It totally reads.
00:15:26
Speaker 1: That reads. And of course, a lot of people say, well, duh, and I understand that. Robes, that just is, she's pulling the curtain back a little bit. Everybody up there has a career-ending secret that is known among that group. And so the reason they will go out there and fight and sound ridiculous, and we're all going, why would he support that? Why would he do that? Because somebody's got the dirt on all of them, and it keeps them in line. Thank you, Marjorie Taylor Greene.
00:15:55
Speaker 2: It's so true.
00:15:55
Speaker 1: She just laid it out in a very succinct way.
00:15:57
Speaker 2: Wouldn't you say that's true in the top tier of most industries?
00:16:02
Speaker 1: Robes, names and faces are coming to your mind right now over at that network. Yes. That you can name right now. If I just open my mouth and say this one thing right now, they're done. They're done. They're done.
00:16:15
Speaker 2: I have thought about it because we have been at the highest levels of our industry. And I am thinking about almost everyone who's in a position of power. And I know things about every one of those people that could end their careers.
00:16:27
Speaker 1: End it right now.
00:16:28
Speaker 2: End their careers. And so, yes, everyone who sits up there and points the finger are hypocrites.
00:16:36
Speaker 1: Hypocrites. All right.
00:16:38
Speaker 2: So Marjorie Taylor Greene. Hell yeah. Let's continue. So everyone is arguing about how this is old news. Why now? Or arguing about being gay and gay issues. Or arguing because that's what everyone does on the internet. Just argue with each other and with bots about issues they don't have the real truth on, but throw out their strongest opinion anyways. I'm here to tell you the granular issue you need to dial in on and block out the rest of the noise. Three gay men just bravely pulled back the curtain and tried to teach you all the most important lessons America needs to learn. It's this. America's most powerful leaders keep secrets that comprise America's most powerful leaders keep secrets that comprise them in the most dangerous ways for the security of safety, and prosperity of our nation.
00:17:35
Speaker 1: Babe, that's a hell of a line. It's hurting the country because they're not thinking for themselves or doing what is right. They're doing what they're told to do because they don't want their own secrets to get out. I hope that actually makes sense.
00:17:47
Speaker 2: When someone has the goods on you, they have power over you.
00:17:50
Speaker 1: Babe, this is Marjorie Taylor Greene put together a hell of a post here. And again, a lot of people look, well, I assume that's what's going on. That makes sense. That's what's going on. But to have someone who was in there lay it out in such a way I give her credit for. But stay here. We'll tell you how she wrapped up that long post. Yes, we'll read you the last chunk of it. And you need to hear what one of Lindsey Graham's accusers said in a post six years ago. Stay here.
00:18:28
Speaker 2: Welcome back, everyone, to Amy and TJ. We are talking about this 30-minute video that was released yesterday by a left-wing organization that had three men come forward with their names, their faces, and their stories saying that the late Senator Lindsey Graham paid them for sex. That included a 17-year-old. And many, many people have weighed in. And a lot of folks are saying, at least the Republicans, the conservative side, saying this is the worst kept secret in DC. We've all known about this, but Marjorie Taylor Greene brought it home and why that secret, that worst kept secret actually is an important thing for all of us to understand how that plays into the power structure of how DC works.
00:19:16
Speaker 1: It does. It does make a bigger point. This isn't just about one man. This isn't about his sexuality. This is about what you're seeing play out here. And what we saw in a several decades long career in Congress is a man who may be was not voting his conscience. We saw a man, maybe, who at times, Robes, we were shocked at a guy that we know is sharp, and the way he was brought up, he gives a damn about that state, to how he just goes off and left feel in blind support sometimes of some issues, or some people or some presidents. She's explaining this in such a way. Every single one of them have a secret they don't want to get out. Yes. The way they keep it from getting out is to stay in line.
00:20:00
Speaker 2: Yes. And she's saying that's dangerous. So her last paragraph, she brings it home. That's the whole point. I tried my hardest to fight the entire system on both sides of the aisle and couldn't beat it because you all kept voting these people back into office and back into power. By the way, I always co-sponsored the term limit bill. And no matter who is in charge, Pelosi, McCarthy, or Johnson, Dem or Republican, that bill never ever got even close to getting a vote on the House floor. So the question for you, the American people, is are you able to learn the lesson? And if so, what exactly are you going to do about it? Ask yourself, what are you voting for? donating to, volunteering for, and are you really satisfied with the outcome election cycle after election cycle? No, I don't think anybody is.
00:20:57
Speaker 1: Give her credit for that one. That was just, that was an interesting read from somebody who was in there. It doesn't seem too politically motivated. She's not even going after anybody necessarily in one party or the other. Bro, she just gave a little insight.
00:21:08
Speaker 2: No, and term limits, I mean, many people have been beating this drum If we don't have career politicians, then they do dip in and have it be an act of public service, then go back to the private sector life. But if you're constantly just trying to get reelected to get more power, obviously that is just ripe for corruption.
00:21:31
Speaker 1: It's tough in the House, babe. As soon as you get elected, you're running again.
00:21:34
Speaker 2: It's two years, right?
00:21:35
Speaker 1: It's a two-year term. You get sworn in in January. The next year, you're going to be up for election again. Yeah. They're constantly running. Now, the only argument I ever heard against term limits, there are some seasoned good guys and good gals who just know that chamber, and you would hate to lose that leadership sometimes.
00:21:57
Speaker 2: Correct.
00:21:58
Speaker 1: But that's the only one I got.
00:21:59
Speaker 2: That makes sense.
00:22:00
Speaker 1: That's the only argument I got.
00:22:02
Speaker 2: And then the other very interesting part. of what's coming out from this video, one of the men who came forward in this video, people have found you can go back to 2020, six years ago, and there was a post that clearly implicated Lindsey Graham.
00:22:25
Speaker 1: I guess he could have been talking about somebody else. It's possible.
00:22:29
Speaker 2: Well, it's the same accuser.
00:22:31
Speaker 1: Yep.
00:22:32
Speaker 2: And who is accusing Lindsey Graham of paying for sex with him. Six years prior.
00:22:38
Speaker 1: Just trying to be open-minded about it.
00:22:40
Speaker 2: This was the Post. There is a homophobic Republican senator who is no better than Trump who keeps passing legislation that is damaging to the LGBT and minority communities. Every sex worker I know has been hired by this man, wondering if enough of us spoke out... if that could get him out of office. Wow.
00:23:05
Speaker 1: If enough of us spoke out, how many are there?
00:23:11
Speaker 2: Look, three came forward, but if it's true.
00:23:15
Speaker 1: What kind of statement is that? Every sex worker I know has been hired by this man. The man, rest in peace. Yes. If you want to bring him up on criminal charges, what are you going to do now?
00:23:27
Speaker 2: What are you going to do?
00:23:28
Speaker 1: Um.
00:23:29
Speaker 2: And Lindsey Graham's sister, by the way, has not.
00:23:31
Speaker 1: Sorry.
00:23:32
Speaker 2: Yes. Her name is Darlene. Darlene. Darlene Graham has not her campaign. They have not addressed this at all. Do they have to?
00:23:42
Speaker 1: I hope she addresses it as a sister and not as a politician, because as a sister, a family member, you'd be pissed. Give me the first microphone and I got a statement to make. No need to write it. Right. Kind of if it comes off that way. One thing, if it comes off as defensive or very polished or politically, it might read differently, baby. But are they going to hold this against her? I mean, she's in enough trouble in that race on her own before all this. Does she get sympathy or do people get turned off by seeing grandma? on election day.
00:24:13
Speaker 2: I think it's going to be up to her, but I think she needs to say something. And we will be waiting for it. We will let you know if we hear something. But in the meantime, we always appreciate you listening to us. I'm Amy Robach, alongside TJ Holmes. We'll talk to you soon.