Lindsey Graham discussed U.S.-Turkey relations on a hoax call with Russians


Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) got played.
Graham was duped by a prank phone call over the summer, and spent several minutes discussing U.S. foreign policy with someone he thought was Turkey's minister of defense, Politico reported Thursday. Unfortunately for Graham, it wasn't a Turkish official on the other line — it was two Russian pranksters.
Alexey Stolyarov and Vladimir Kuznetsov, who Politico reports are suspected to have ties to the Kremlin's intelligence operations and have previously prank called British officials, called Graham in August. They talked about Turkey's military activity against the Kurds in northern Syria, Russia's anti-aircraft weapon system, and a fraught case involving alleged Iranian money laundering, which is being investigated by the Justice Department.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"Thank you so much for calling me, Mr. Minister," Graham said on the call. "I want to make this a win-win, if we can." As Politico notes, the information Graham disclosed on the call was "relatively harmless," but clearly raises concerns about how easily bad actors can reach lawmakers. Graham in particular is a close ally of President Trump's, a fellow prank call victim. He has pushed more recently against Trump's military pullback in Syria. On the call, Graham, suggested the Kurds were a "threat" to Turkey, though he has in recent days said it was "wrong" for the U.S. to "abandon the Kurds," who are U.S. allies.
A spokesperson for Graham confirmed the Russian pranksters were able to get the senator on the line, even getting through for a second call a few days later. "We have been successful in stopping many efforts to prank Senator Graham and the office, but this one slipped through the cracks," said Graham's spokesman. "They got him."
Listen to the phone call at Politico.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Summer Meza has worked at The Week since 2018, serving as a staff writer, a news writer and currently the deputy editor. As a proud news generalist, she edits everything from political punditry and science news to personal finance advice and film reviews. Summer has previously written for Newsweek and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, covering national politics, transportation and the cannabis industry.
-
October 4 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Saturday's political cartoons include the Einstein files, defunding the police, and an odd tribute to Jane Goodall
-
Mustardy beans and hazelnuts recipe
The Week Recommends Nod to French classic offers zingy, fresh taste
-
Under siege: Argentina’s president drops his chainsaw
Talking Point The self-proclaimed ‘first anarcho-capitalist president in world history’ faces mounting troubles
-
Museum head ousted after Trump sword gift denial
Speed Read Todd Arrington, who led the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, denied the Trump administration a sword from the collection as a gift for King Charles
-
Trump declares ‘armed conflict’ with drug cartels
speed read This provides a legal justification for recent lethal military strikes on three alleged drug trafficking boats
-
Supreme Court rules for Fed’s Cook in Trump feud
Speed Read Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook can remain in her role following Trump’s attempts to oust her
-
Judge rules Trump illegally targeted Gaza protesters
Speed Read The Trump administration’s push to arrest and deport international students for supporting Palestine is deemed illegal
-
Trump: US cities should be military ‘training grounds’
Speed Read In a hastily assembled summit, Trump said he wants the military to fight the ‘enemy within’ the US
-
US government shuts down amid health care standoff
Speed Read Democrats said they won’t vote for a deal that doesn’t renew Affordable Care Act health care subsidies
-
YouTube to pay Trump $22M over Jan. 6 expulsion
Speed Read The president accused the company of censorship following the suspension of accounts post-Capitol riot
-
Oregon sues to stop Trump military deployment
Speed Read The president wants to send the National Guard into Portland