'The halls of the Senate already feel empty': Tearful Thune honors Lindsey Graham as sister takes his seat

In the Senate, there’s a black veil covering a desk. On top there’s a bowl of striking white roses. That’s where Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., used to sit.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., pointed to that desk during an emotional tribute to the late Senator on Monday. Graham was a confidant, trusted advisor and friend to Thune. And through tears, he set about remembering the lawmaker who spent 30 years in Washington, D.C., making a mark on his state and country.

"It's difficult to believe that Lindsey Graham is no longer here with us," Thune said. "That we won't run into him at a meeting today or share a joke with him at this afternoon's vote. The halls of the Senate already feel empty without him. And I know I'm not alone in that feeling."

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As Thune spoke about Graham, the late lawmaker’s staff sat in the Senate chamber as tears filled the room. And since Thune became the leader of the Senate GOP, you would oftentime see Graham enter his office just off the Senate floor.

He was there to talk down Republican rebels who threatened to sink President Donald Trump’s "big, beautiful bill," and once earlier this year stormed into Thune’s office declaring his resistance to a deal struck by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and the president to avert a government shutdown.

But he was there, and Thune noted that "Lindsey was fearless in his commitment to the causes that he espoused."

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"It didn't matter to him whether he would catch flak on an issue," Thune said. "He was undaunted by the politics if he believed he was right on the principle."

"Senator. Warrior. Patriot. Statesman," Thune continued. "Words that will be written about Lindsey. But for me, most of all, Mr. President, he was my friend."

Shortly after Thune’s tribute to Graham, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster officially tapped his sister, Darline Graham Nordone, to fill his seat for the remainder of his term. It’s a move that Thune, Trump and Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C. backed.

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"I think this is what Lindsey would have wanted, and I plan to honor him in this way," Nordone said at the ceremony. "Now to Lindsey, I miss you more than I can even put into words. But I'm going to do this, I got it."

Back in the Senate, Thune remembers Graham as a "staunch conservative and a fierce advocate for South Carolina," but as a lawmaker who was willing to cross the aisle to find a solution. Through it all, Thune said that he would miss Graham’s friendship and humor.

"I am comforted by the knowledge that in the end, he has just changed his address. And that one day, Mr. President," Thune said through tears. "We will laugh together again."