WASHINGTON — Preliminary findings from the District of Columbia's Office of the Chief Medical Examiner indicate that U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham died from an aortic dissection caused by arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, according to a statement released by the South Carolina Republican's office, while officials said the investigation remains ongoing pending completion of additional forensic testing.
Graham, 71, died on Saturday after what his office initially described as a "brief and sudden illness." In a subsequent update issued Sunday, Communications Director Taylor Reidy said the medical examiner's preliminary examination found the cause of death to be "aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease." The office added that the death certificate will remain pending until toxicological and microscopic examinations are completed and the findings are finalized.
The preliminary findings do not represent the final determination by the medical examiner. Officials said further laboratory analysis is standard procedure before a final cause and manner of death are certified.
Emergency responders were dispatched to Graham's Washington residence on Saturday evening after receiving a cardiac emergency call. According to reporting citing emergency dispatch records, police and emergency medical personnel entered the home after receiving no response and began life-saving efforts. Graham was later pronounced dead. Federal authorities, including the FBI, have assisted local authorities as part of the investigation, though officials have not indicated any evidence of criminal wrongdoing.
An aortic dissection occurs when a tear develops in the inner layer of the aorta, the body's main artery, allowing blood to separate the layers of the vessel wall. Medical experts say the condition constitutes a medical emergency and can prove fatal without immediate treatment. Arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, identified in the preliminary findings, involves hardening and narrowing of the arteries over time.
Graham had served in the U.S. Senate since 2003 after four terms in the House of Representatives. At the time of his death, he was seeking another Senate term and had recently returned from a congressional trip to Ukraine. Tributes from political leaders across party lines followed the announcement of his death.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has not announced when the final death certificate will be issued. Until the remaining examinations are completed, the preliminary medical findings remain subject to confirmation through the ongoing forensic review.
