(José Niño, Headline USA) Sen. Darline Graham, R-S.C., faces questions about whether her foreign policy positions conflict with business connections involving her husband’s employer. In a Drop Site report published on Wednesday, Ryan Grim traced those connections to Chinese defense companies subject to American restrictions. The reporting does not establish that Graham, her husband, or his employer violated sanctions.
Larry Nordone holds a senior position at Cosmox North America, a subsidiary of Cosmox Outdoors. According to Grim, Cosmox Outdoors merged in 2021 with Zhongzhou Machinery Works, or ZZM. Until recently, ZZM’s website identified Poly Technologies and Norinco as “partners and clients.”
Grim reported that Washington sanctioned Poly Technologies in 2024 over support for Russia’s war against Ukraine. A current Treasury listing confirms that Poly appears on the Specially Designated Nationals list under the Russia sanctions program.
Norinco falls under a different restriction. Its current Treasury entry places it on the Chinese military industrial complex investment list, not the same blocking list as Poly. Grim also noted that earlier Iran related sanctions imposed on Norinco in 2003 were lifted in 2005. Those historical measures should not be confused with its present listing.
The connections complicate Graham’s stated opposition to “depending on Communist China” for manufacturing. They also contrast with her support for Ukraine and confrontational position toward Iran, Grim argued. Appointed after her brother Lindsey Graham’s death, she now faces Democrat Annie Andrews in South Carolina’s Senate election.
Graham sponsored legislation named for her brother Lindsey Graham that introduced additional sanctions against Russia and Iran. President Donald Trump signed it in September, then issued an executive order rolling back its provisions, according to Drop Site.
“Lindsey believed this bill, which he worked on for well over a year, would help achieve [a peaceful resolution in Ukraine] through squeezing [Russian President Vladimir] Putin economically and forcing his customers to reevaluate the relationship with Russia,” she said, as reported by The State.
During an October 11 Senate debate, Graham defended continuing military action against Iran. “Why in the world would we stop now when they’re still dangerous?” She added, “Again, I think the president wants to end the war. I know he does. We all want the war to end. But I support a strong military. I believe in peace through strength.”
Drop Site reported that Graham’s campaign, Cosmox, and ZZM did not answer its questions. However, spokesperson Rachel Chen previously told The Washington Post, “Cosmox Outdoors has had no commercial dealings with CSGC [China South Industries Group Corporation], NORINCO, or Poly Technologies.” She described contrary website material as outdated.
After the Post’s inquiries, the websites temporarily disappeared and returned with defense references removed. Those changes warrant scrutiny, but do not independently prove current dealings with sanctioned companies.
José Niño is the deputy editor of Headline USA. Follow him at x.com/JoseAlNino
