Lindsey Graham delays shutdown vote over $500K ‘Arctic Frost’ benefit

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has just hours to send a sweeping spending bill to the House after Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) dashed hopes of passing the legislation late on Thursday night.

There are still objections to fast-tracking the legislation on both sides of the aisle, according to a source familiar with the matter, including multiple Democrats who want more amendment votes. But Graham emerged as the most vocal stumbling block for leadership after he vented to reporters that immigration officials were being “demonized” by the Democrats and that Congress was wrong to repeal a provision directing $500,000 payouts for senators, including Graham, surveilled under the Biden-era “Arctic Frost” investigation.

Leadership is banking on the pressure cooker of a Friday night shutdown deadline to overcome