WASHINGTON — U.S. authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the sudden death of Senator Lindsey Graham after the South Carolina Republican died following what his office described as a "brief and sudden illness," while officials have not announced any evidence of foul play or disclosed a medical cause of death.
Graham, 71, died on the evening of July 11, according to a statement released by his office early Sunday. The statement said his family had requested privacy but did not provide further details about the illness that preceded his death.
Multiple U.S. media organizations reported that emergency responders were dispatched to Graham's Washington-area residence following a medical emergency. CBS News reported that an emergency call referenced a cardiac arrest, but authorities have not publicly confirmed a cause of death, and no official findings have been released.
Law enforcement and medical authorities are following standard procedures to establish the cause and manner of death, according to reports citing officials familiar with the response. As of Sunday, no agency had announced that the death was being treated as suspicious, and investigators had not publicly linked it to any criminal activity.
Graham served in the U.S. Senate since 2003 after representing South Carolina in the House of Representatives. A leading Republican voice on national security and foreign policy, he was among President Donald Trump's closest allies in Congress after initially opposing Trump's 2016 presidential campaign.
The senator had recently returned from a visit to Ukraine, where he met President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and discussed proposed legislation aimed at increasing sanctions on Russia, according to public statements made before his death.
Tributes poured in from U.S. and international leaders following the announcement. Trump described Graham as "a true American Patriot" in a social media post, while Zelenskyy and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised his longstanding support for their countries and his advocacy on foreign policy issues.
Under South Carolina law, Governor Henry McMaster is expected to appoint an interim successor to fill the Senate seat until a special election is held. State election officials have not yet announced a timetable beyond the procedures required by law.
As of Sunday, officials had not released autopsy findings or additional information regarding the medical circumstances of Graham's death, and the investigation into the cause remained ongoing.
