Lindsey Graham Helps Netanyahu Delay ICC Arrest Warrant, Reveals Leaked Call

Newly released recordings published by The New York Times reveal how influential U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham worked behind the scenes in 2024 to help Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thwart an impending arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague. The conversations, recorded as part of a documentary project, expose close coordination between the two leaders.

In a phone call from late October 2024, Netanyahu informed Graham about the ICC panel’s imminent decision to issue a warrant against him for alleged war crimes. Netanyahu suggested exploiting allegations of sexual misconduct against the ICC’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, to delay the warrant. He proposed sending a bipartisan letter from U.S. lawmakers requesting a review before the warrant’s issuance.

Graham agreed and recommended House Speaker Mike Johnson as the ideal signatory. He promised to rally bipartisan support and later joked with Netanyahu, "You should pay me for all this. I need a lot of money," adding it would take more than dinner to compensate him. Graham also secured backing from two Democratic senators, urging Netanyahu to personally thank them and express interest in normalizing relations with Saudi Arabia.

The bipartisan letter was published days after the calls, signed by Graham and the two Democrats. Netanyahu attended Graham’s funeral in Washington on July 28, 2026, underscoring their close ties. The recordings stem from about 400 hours of footage filmed by British director Alex Holder over four years for the documentary "Lindsey's Game." This revelation highlights the extent of U.S. political involvement in efforts to influence international legal proceedings against Netanyahu.