Graham spent his final days pushing bipartisan Russia sanctions bill, senator says

WASHINGTON, DC: Following the sudden death of South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, several details of his last moments have emerged.

Along with Trump revealing what Graham discussed on his last call with him after returning from Ukraine, Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD) said on Sunday, July 12, that the late senator was working on a bipartisan Russia sanctions bill in his final days.

Mike Rounds praises Lindsey Graham's work on Russia sanctions

Sen Rounds, on Sunday, said that the late Sen Graham really felt as if he was “making great strides” towards a Russia sanctions bill before he died at the age of 71 due to a “brief and sudden illness.”

“We were just in Ankara, Turkey for the NATO summit together. He came in. We met with, among others, [Ukrainian] President [Volodymyr] Zelensky. Clearly, they had a good personal friendship as well,” Rounds said during an appearance on NewsNation’s 'The Hill Sunday'.

“But he was very proud of the work he was doing with regard to the Russian sanctions bill that he’s been working on for over a year on a bipartisan basis. And he really felt he was making great strides to be able to put it all together when we come back into session this week,” he added.

Last week, Graham and Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss) issued a statement announcing that the lawmakers had reached an agreement with the White House on language for a Russia sanctions bill.

“As Russia intensifies its slaughter of civilians, it is imperative that the legislative and executive branches work together to create tools to exact a heavy price on those who buy Russian oil and natural gas, fueling the Putin war machine,” the four lawmakers collectively wrote.

Senators urge Congress to pass sanctions bill to honor Graham

Blumenthal and Shaheen, on Sunday, urged members of Congress to pass the legislation to honor Graham.

Blumenthal said “passing the sanctions bill right away would be a fitting tribute” to the late lawmaker in a post on the social media platform X.

Shaheen also wrote in a statement posted to X, “There can be no more fitting memorial to Lindsey, his legacy, or the causes he fought for, than to pass this legislation and realize his long-held dream of an independent and secure Ukraine."

Rounds said Graham “was one of these guys who really was devoted to the United States.”

“He was devoted to his job. Wherever he felt he was needed, he was going to go. And that meant overseas a lot,” he added.