Three men have accused the late South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham (R) of paying them for sexual encounters, including one who claims he was just 17 years old at the time, in a newly released documentary examining the former South Carolina lawmaker’s private life.
The allegations emerged Thursday, October 22, with the release of The CLOSETocracy, a documentary produced by The Young Turks and Swamp Watch Studios.
The film features accounts from three individuals who claim they engaged in paid sexual encounters with Graham, who died July 11 at age 71.
The accusations have not been independently verified, and Graham consistently denied speculation about his sexuality during his lifetime.
Among those featured is adult film performer Cory Burns, professionally known as Sean Harding, whose allegations first attracted attention in June 2020.
Burns previously claimed that a prominent Republican senator had privately hired male escorts despite supporting legislation opposed by LGBT advocacy organizations.
His social media posts referenced the initials “LG,” helping fuel widespread speculation surrounding Graham.
In the documentary, Burns alleges that an intermediary arranged a $1,500 overnight encounter at Washington’s Mayflower Hotel.
He claims a driver transported him to the hotel, where he met Graham.
According to Burns, the senator requested specific sexual activities involving domination and degrading language, including homophobic insults.
Burns further alleges that Graham paid the agreed amount despite ending the encounter earlier than planned.
Another participant, identified as Kelvin, makes a more serious allegation involving an encounter he says occurred while Graham served in the U.S. House of Representatives between 1995 and 2003.
Kelvin claims he was 17 years old at the time, although he initially told Graham he was 18.
He alleges that Graham repeatedly questioned his age and requested identification before proceeding with sexual activity.
Kelvin said he felt unable to challenge the lawmaker because he needed the promised $120 payment.
“I felt powerless in arguing with him about it,” Kelvin recalled.
A third participant, identified as Jesse, alleges that Graham paid $260 for an encounter at Washington’s Beacon Hotel in 2012.
The documentary arrives more than six years after the original allegations involving Graham began circulating online.
Additional accusations previously emerged from transgender women who claimed they had been hired by the senator.
One woman, Taylor Snider, alleged that Graham paid her for sex in June 2015.
Although journalists examined purported appointment messages connected to her account, those communications could not be independently authenticated.
The allegations have drawn attention to Graham’s political record, particularly his opposition to several measures supported by LGBTQ+ rights organizations.
During his congressional career, Graham voted against repealing the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy and opposed federal employment protections for LGBTQ+ individuals.
He also voted against the Respect for Marriage Act.
The documentary’s participants argue that those positions conflict with the private conduct they attribute to the former senator, per the Advocate.
However, allegations concerning Graham’s private sexual relationships remain unsubstantiated.
The Advocate contacted the office of his sister, Republican Sen. Darline Graham, seeking comment.
Neither her office nor Burns responded to the publication’s inquiries.
The documentary includes footage of Darline Graham declining to address accusations concerning her brother.
“I’m not even going to entertain that question,” she said.
The controversy comes as Darline Graham campaigns against Democrat Annie Andrews ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.
Turning Point USA spokesman Andrew Kolvet dismissed the documentary’s political significance, suggesting the longstanding allegations were already familiar to conservative audiences.
“This isn’t an October surprise, we’ve known this for years,” Kolvet wrote on X.
He also argued that attempts to connect Darline Graham to allegations against her late brother would prove ineffective.
Despite the renewed attention, the documentary does not establish that Graham committed a crime or verify the participants’ accounts.
Its release has nevertheless revived allegations that followed the former senator for years, bringing renewed scrutiny to the contrast between his public legislative positions and the private conduct alleged by his accusers.
