Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) revealed Sunday that the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) believed he was on the verge of finalizing a bipartisan Russia sanctions bill before his sudden death at 71 from a brief illness. Rounds shared the details during an appearance on NewsNation's "The Hill Sunday," offering a glimpse into Graham's final legislative push.
Rounds noted that he and Graham had recently traveled together to Ankara, Turkey, for the NATO summit, where they met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. "Clearly, they had a good personal friendship as well," Rounds said. He added that Graham was deeply proud of the sanctions work he had been leading for over a year, working across party lines. "He really felt he was making great strides to be able to put it all together when we come back into session this week," Rounds said.
The South Dakota senator's comments come just days after Graham, along with Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), announced they had reached an agreement with the White House on the bill's language. In a joint statement last week, the lawmakers stressed the urgency: "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 statement was released during what turned out to be Graham's 10th trip to Ukraine, where he met with Zelensky to discuss "long-range sanctions pressure on Russia" as the four-year war grinds on. Zelensky mourned Graham's death on X, calling him a "staunch advocate" for bipartisan and bicameral support for Ukraine. "America and the world have lost a determined leader," the Ukrainian president wrote.
Rounds painted a portrait of a senator fully devoted to his work. "He was one of these guys who really was devoted to the United States," Rounds said. "He was devoted to his job. Wherever he felt he was needed, he was going to go. And that meant overseas a lot." Rounds described Graham as a hawk who believed the U.S. had a critical international role, unafraid to argue for America acting as the world's law enforcement when necessary to protect national interests.
The loss of Graham, a key architect of the sanctions push, raises questions about the bill's future in the Senate. The legislation, which aims to penalize buyers of Russian oil and gas, had been a priority for the bipartisan group. For more on the broader impact of Graham's death on legislative efforts, see how his absence complicates other major initiatives.
Graham's sudden illness and death at 71 have prompted an outpouring of tributes from colleagues and world leaders. For a look at how his legacy is being remembered, including from former President Trump, read Trump's tribute to a 'true patriot'. South Carolina is now preparing to fill his seat under state law, as detailed in the process for selecting a successor.
Rounds concluded by emphasizing Graham's personal qualities: "He cared deeply about U.S. policy overseas. He was a hawk. He truly believed that the United States had a role to play internationally. He was also a very good friend."
