SC’s SLED providing security for an additional elected official. Here’s who
When U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham walked into the state Election Commission office Monday, a man in a suit, with a SLED pin on his jacket, held the door open for the state’s senior senator and two staff members.
Just months earlier while talking about security of elected officials, Graham jokingly pointed at his office staff as his security. But now while in the state, Graham, a Seneca Republican, is under the protection of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, which is also providing security for two other members of the state’s federal delegation.
Although Graham has been an advocate for military intervention in the Middle East for years, his detail is in place when the U.S. and Israel have been bombing Iran in recent weeks, which included killing the country’s supreme leader.
Graham’s campaign referred questions to his official office, which declined to answer questions.
SLED has a policy to provide protection when its chief determines a valid threat may exist. SLED confirmed the security detail for Graham, but would not comment on what specific threats have led to Graham having a security detail.
SLED has an agreement with Capitol Police to provide dignitary protection for certain members of Congress while they’re in South Carolina.
Graham has called for military action against Iran for years. His hawkish stances have brought him criticism from people within the Republican Party who have argued against continued military intervention abroad.
“I don’t think they like me in Iran. I think the people do,” Graham said Monday when asked in Columbia about whether he had more security concerns.
SLED agents were present during Graham’s candidacy filing event Monday afternoon where he hosted supporters and family at his campaign office in Columbia.
The heightened security measures mark a change from the end of last year. In November, Graham told reporters he likely received his “fair share” of threats but did not have a security detail “day in and day out.”
“There’s some pretty angry people out there,” Graham said Nov. 12 in Columbia.
Adding security to SLED stretches its protection duties. The law enforcement agency, which coordinates personnel from the South Carolina Highway Patrol and Department of Natural Resources, also provides details for Gov. Henry McMaster, Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette, Attorney General Alan Wilson, U.S. Sen. Tim Scott and U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn.
SLED asked budget writers to help pay for additional officers to backfill personnel who were moved to executive protection.
However, House budget writers in their first version of the spending plan did not propose giving SLED additional money.
Ways and Means Chairman Bruce Bannister told The State that he expects to push dollars for those details in the House’s second version of the budget, which it will put together later this spring after it returns from the Senate.
“The thought was not we weren’t going to do it, the thought was we had to balance, and we’re in the first quarter of a four quarter budget game,” Bannister said. “There was no reason specifically not to do it, other than with all the other things going on we didn’t have it on the line in this version.”
Under the House budget, the Department of Public Safety would receive additional money because the Supreme Court asked for additional security at Court House. Bannister added that the additional $4.7 million added to the Department of Public Safety budget was for 30 new positions under the Bureau of Protective Services officers and dispatch.
Bannister added SLED could absorb the additional duties through the start of next year, but would need additional dollars if the additional duties was needed long-term.
“We’re taking those things seriously, and we’re going to make sure every elected official who needs a detail will have one because we don’t want anybody to be at risk because they’ve offered for public service,” Bannister said.
This story was originally published March 18, 2026 at 1:13 PM with the headline "SC’s SLED providing security for an additional elected official. Here’s who."
