Graham Told Defense Sec “I’ll Make Your Life Hell” In Argument Over Proposal To Pull US Troops From Africa

NBC News reports:

Sen. Lindsey Graham and a bipartisan group of lawmakers, uniting against a Trump administration idea to withdraw U.S. troops from part of Africa, pushed back during a fiery exchange with Defense Secretary Mark Esper here over the weekend, according to four people present at or familiar with the meeting.

At one point, Graham warned Esper that there would be consequences if the Pentagon withdrew all troops from the region. Graham told Esper that he could “make your life hell,” according to the four people. One member present said Graham, Coons and several other lawmakers laid out their case “forcefully.”

Pentagon Press Secretary Alyssa Farah said the quote attributed to Graham was false. “I was in the room and that was never said,” said Farah. “The secretary had a productive conversation with bipartisan, bicameral members of Congress on the future of U.S. force presence in West Africa.”