The Hill News

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) says it’s a mistake not to release photos of Osama bin Laden's body.

“I respectfully disagree with President Obama’s decision not to release the photos.  It’s a mistake," Graham said in a statement Wednesday.

“The whole purpose of sending our soldiers into the compound, rather than an aerial bombardment, was to obtain indisputable proof of bin Laden’s death," Graham said. "I know bin Laden is dead. But the best way to protect and defend our interests overseas is to prove that fact to the rest of the world.

“I’m afraid the decision made today by President Obama will unnecessarily prolong this debate,” he said.

Lawmakers on the left and the right have been split on whether to release the photos. Some argue it would unnecessarily endanger American troops around the world. But others say the release is important to disprove conspiracy theories that bin Laden was not really killed.

President Obama decided on Wednesday not to release the photos because he said it could incite violence or encourage propaganda.

"That's not who we are," Obama said in an interview to air on "60 Minutes." "We don't trot out trophies."

--Brooks Simmons contributed.