Medical Examiner Releases Initial Findings
The preliminary cause of death for Sen. Lindsey Graham has been released following the longtime South Carolina lawmaker’s death at age 71.
According to the District of Columbia Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Graham died from an aortic dissection caused by arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, a condition involving a tear in the wall of the body’s main artery that can quickly become life-threatening.
Investigation Remains Ongoing
The medical examiner’s office said the findings are preliminary and noted that Graham’s death certificate will remain pending until toxicology and microscopic testing are completed.
His office had previously announced that Graham died after a “brief and sudden illness,” without providing additional medical details at the time.
A Career Spanning Three Decades
Graham represented South Carolina in the U.S. Senate since 2003, after serving in the House of Representatives and as an attorney in the U.S. Air Force.
Over the years, he became one of the Republican Party’s most influential voices on foreign policy, national security, and defense. Although he initially opposed Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign, the two later became close political allies.
Tributes Continue Across Washington
President Trump and lawmakers from both parties have continued to honor Graham’s decades of public service following news of his death. Just days before he passed away, Graham had returned from Kyiv, where he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss continued U.S. support for Ukraine.
South Carolina officials have also praised Graham’s long career, remembering him as a dedicated public servant whose influence extended well beyond his home state.
