New documentary alleges the late Senator Lindsey Graham paid male escorts
By Easton Martin
A documentary released by The Young Turks on October 22 has brought renewed attention to allegations that former Sen. Lindsey Graham paid male sex workers for sexual encounters. The approximately 30-minute production features three men who claim they had sexual encounters with Graham. One man alleges he was 17 years old at the time, raising a particularly serious allegation that requires independent verification.
The documentary adds new public testimony to a controversy that has circulated for years. However, the existence of multiple allegations does not automatically establish that the alleged encounters occurred. The key question is what evidence the men have provided and whether investigators or journalists have independently verified their accounts.
Three men describe alleged encounters with Graham and claim they received payment for sex. The documentary presents their accounts as part of an effort to examine allegations that have followed the South Carolina Republican for years. However, the available reporting does not establish that the documentary independently verified each man’s account through records or outside witnesses.
The allegations have attracted attention partly because Graham maintained a public record opposing same-sex marriage and several LGBTQ-related legal protections. His background has fueled accusations of hypocrisy for a long time, but it does not establish anything about his private conduct. These claims regarding the late Senator’s sexuality are nothing new, and perhaps we may never know the full truth.
