Democrat Cory Booker says he will miss his ‘most unexpected friend’ in the Senate 16%
By Adisa Hargett-Robinson0%
7/12/2026, 10:00:28 PM
BS Summary: This article contains 2 faulty reasoning types, including Ad Hominem, with Halo Effect as the most egregious example at 19.2% saturation with 87 hits. Analysis detected 103 faulty-reasoning hits from 454 analyzed words, generating a BS Score of 31.8% and a BS Rank of 16% (13,052 of 15,415 articles). This article is better (less manipulative) than 84.70% of the article peer group.
Sen.
Cory Booker (D-NJ) reflected on his unlikely friendship with the late Sen.
Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and on Graham’s role in advancing criminal justice reform following his death.
In a social media video , Booker recalled approaching Graham about working together on criminal justice reform, only to be told that Graham was facing a difficult primary fight and could not publicly engage at the time.
I am stunned by Senator Graham's passing, and thinking back this morning about some of the work we did together.
My prayers are with his family and all who cherished him.
Rest in Peace. pic.twitter.com/cPUXDQxk1B
— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) July 12, 2026
“I’m in a primary right now, and I’m running against a guy who is bat**** crazy.
I can’t even so much as talk to you right now,” Booker recalled Graham telling him.
“Come back to me after my primary.”
Booker said he returned after the primary, and Graham followed through, working alongside Booker, Sen.
Dick Durbin ( D-IL), and other lawmakers to help pass what became the First Step Act.
Signed into law in 2018 by President Donald Trump , the First Step Act was a bipartisan criminal justice reform package aimed at reducing certain federal prison sentences, expanding rehabilitation programs, and providing incentives for incarcerated individuals to participate in programs designed to reduce recidivism.
Booker said one of his most memorable moments during negotiations came when he pushed for a provision addressing the use of solitary confinement for children.
After a disagreement with a White House official, Booker recalled that the official threatened to call Graham to settle the dispute.
According to Booker, Graham quickly sided with the effort to include the provision.
“Are you kidding me?
We need Cory Booker to get this bill done.
We can’t do it without him.
Give him what he wants,” Booker recalled Graham saying.
The provision ultimately became part of the legislation, Booker said.
Booker also recalled a description from one White House negotiator who compared Graham’s unpredictable negotiating style to an “unguided missile” — someone whose position could be difficult to predict but who could accomplish major goals when focused on a cause.
“He could get things done that other people couldn’t,” Booker said.
DEMOCRATS SEE OPENING AFTER GRAHAM’S DEATH SHAKES UP SOUTH CAROLINA SENATE RACE
Booker described Graham as “perhaps my most unexpected friend in the Senate,” saying he would miss the South Carolina senator and praying that Graham was reunited with his longtime friend, the late Sen.
John McCain.
“I will miss my perhaps most unexpected friend in the Senate, and someone with whom I got some good things done,” Booker said.
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