Three men claim that Republican Senator Lindsey Graham paid them for sex

A video released by The Young Turks claims that three men allege Lindsey Graham paid them for sex before his unexpected death. One man, Kelvin, states he was paid for sex at 17 and secretly recorded their encounter. Another, Cory, recounts being driven to a hotel where he was compensated for spending the night with Graham, not recognizing him until months later during the 2016 election campaign. Graham has consistently denied being gay, despite longstanding rumors about his private life. Following the video's release, a conservative spokesperson acknowledged Graham's homosexuality as an open secret, suggesting the video was an attempt to distract from the South Carolina Senate race. The New York Times could not verify the identities or claims of the men in the video, although documents were shared on a website promoting the video. The video surfaced shortly before midterm elections, as Graham's sister, Darline, campaigns to fill his seat after his death.