Lindsey Graham, a longtime Republican senator from South Carolina, died Saturday night, his office said in a statement early Sunday morning.
“On the evening of Saturday, July 11, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham passed away from a brief and sudden illness,” according to the statement. “Senator Graham’s family appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period.”
Graham, who was first elected to the House in 1994 and the Senate in 2002, was running for reelection this year. He had been a staunch ally of President Donald Trump on most matters but had broken with the president on some issues, such as foreign policy.
“He’s outstanding. He’s been at my side for a long time,” Trump said in a telerally for Graham last month, acknowledging that the two men had dueled for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination. “After that fight was over, we were best of friends, and he’s helped me as much as anybody in the Senate.”
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster (R) said in a statement that Graham was “the fiercest of fighters for South Carolina and America — and a loyal and steadfast friend.”
Under South Carolina law, McMaster can make an immediate appointment to fill Graham’s seat.
Graham, whose birthday was Thursday, recently returned from Ukraine after meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky. Graham told reporters in Kyiv on Friday that a bipartisan group of senators had reached an agreement with the White House to impose new sanctions on Russia in an effort to end that country’s long-running war with Ukraine.
Emergency medical responders worked to stabilize a man at Graham’s home on Saturday night and transport him to a hospital, according to police scanner audio obtained by The Washington Post and eyewitnesses.
Emergency medical services received a call around 8:30 p.m. for a person suffering chest pains at a Capitol Hill home owned by Graham, according to the audio. About 25 minutes later, emergency personnel said that CPR was in progress and that a man at the house was suffering from cardiac arrest.
A person who lives on Graham’s street shared photos of an older man being taken from Graham’s home by wheeled stretcher and loaded into an ambulance around 9:30 p.m. The man was then taken to George Washington University Hospital.
Graham’s death narrows Republicans’ majority in the Senate, where they had held a 53-47 edge but were already facing the expected absence of one member. The office of Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) has said the 84-year-old lawmaker has been hospitalized since last month but has shared few other updates on his condition.
I am a bit shocked. He was just in Ukraine and now he’s already dead? I hope an investigation is conducted to see if the cockroaches have anything to do with this!
No. It looks like it was a heart attack, but that may not completely excuse the cockroaches of course.
No, this must be investigated. You cannot trust the cockroach. Never!
This seems suspicious.
After much flip flopping, he seemed to have finally been on the verge of achieving something with Ukraine aid and now this happens.
One of few; VERY few trumpers who supported Ukraine.
As much as a few people here loved to insult Lindsey Graham, he was a good friend for Ukraine and will be missed. He was one of the millions and millions of “MAGA” that love Ukraine. Those celebrating are celebrating with the Kremlin.
I enjoyed insulting him because he was so deeply inserted in Taco’s ass. But even he doesn’t deserve this.
Just after visiting Kyiv……………………………….may be still on the way home………..real suddenly. Lets hope, I mean in the good way, it was a natural cause.
But we live in a world where an examination would be a good idea……………………..
A cardiac arrest is completely different from a heart attack and is very dangerous.
There are various ways of inducing this that are known to the vipers in the Kremlin.
I would not put it past them if they were his murderers.
Personally I am shocked as well…………………..It can happen……………..but moment in time feels not good as well……………….
Based on my years of working in health here in the states I would be willing to bet it was a widow maker hart attack.
“The term “widowmaker” historically comes from the greater risk of a 100% blockage in the left anterior descending (LAD) artery, which carries almost 50% of the blood to your heart muscle,”
When you go you go quick. it is one of the fastest ways to naturally die.
I’m wondering who had him killed, FSB or Vance?…