Wes Hickman (202) 224-5972 or Kevin Bishop (864) 250-1417

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made the following statement in response to a question about Vice President Cheney’s recent hunting trip. “I have been hunting with Vice President Cheney on several occasions over the past few years and know him to be a skilled and safety-conscious hunter. “Unfortunately, hunting accidents occur, even among the most skilled hunters. The Vice President has accepted personal responsibility for this accident and I know this is something he deeply regrets. “Mr. Whittington and the Vice President have been friends for many years and I know Mr. Whittington’s personal privacy is a great concern to the Vice President. The Vice President knows the more he talks, the less privacy Mr. Whittington and his family will enjoy. “The constant second-guessing of what the Vice President should have said and when he should have said it is an unnecessary diversion from the many issues facing our nation.” #####