US Senator Lindsey Graham died of ruptured aorta brought on by chronic heart disease, preliminary findings show
US Republican Senator and close Trump ally Lindsey Graham’s preliminary cause of death has been revealed after he succumbed to a “brief and sudden illness”
Laurence KaracsonyDigital Reporter
US Republican Senator and close Trump ally Lindsey Graham died of a ruptured aorta brought on by chronic heart disease, it has been revealed
According to preliminary findings of the DC medical examiner’s office, released on Sunday, the 71-year-old died of “aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease”
The rare condition affects mostly older men and involves the tearing of the body’s main artery, according to the Mayo Clinic
“The death certificate will be pending until all the toxicological and microscopic testing are finalised and at that point the death certificate will be updated to reflect the cause of death and appropriately classify the manner of death,” the medical examiner’s office said in its initial assessment
Heart disease ran in the late senator’s family, with his father, Florence James Graham, dying of a heart attack in his late 60s
The contest to succeed Mr Graham will not impact the broader fight for control of the Senate in November between Republicans and Democrats, as South Carolina is a reliably Republican state
However, his death robs President Donald Trump of a dependable Senate vote as he seeks to push his agenda in the closely-divided Senate
“He’s a tough one to lose,” President Trump told NBC’s Meet the Press program
“He was great. He was unique in every way.”
Another senior Republican in the upper chamber, Senator <a href="https://healthylife7.com/sen-mitch-mcconnell-says-he-was-briefly-unconscious-had-pneumonia-in-latest-health-update/" title="Sen. Mitch McConnell says he was "briefly unconscious," had pneumonia in latest health update”>Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, remains hospitalised for undisclosed health problems
Speaking on CNN’s State of the Union program, President Trump said Mr Graham, who had just returned from a trip to Ukraine, called him on Saturday night
“Other than being tired, he was fine,” President Trump said
The President said he received news of Mr Graham’s death early Sunday morning.
President Trump has ordered US flags to be lowered in Mr Graham’s honour
Under South Carolina law, the state’s Republican governor, Henry McMaster, can immediately appoint a temporary replacement to fill Mr Graham’s seat
South Carolina Republicans must then also hold an expedited primary election to pick a nominee for the November midterm election
That nominee does not have to be the same person Mr McMaster picks as a temporary replacement
Mr Graham, a defence hawk, was a prominent supporter of Israel and Ukraine and an opponent of Iran
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was “deeply saddened” by the news, calling Mr Graham a “true defender of freedom and the values that make our world safer”
On Friday, Mr Graham met President Zelensky in Kyiv, and the Ukrainian leader said the two discussed Ukraine’s air defence needs and a Russia sanctions bill
President Zelensky noted that Mr Graham had visited Ukraine 10 times since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022
“We will always be especially grateful for the recognition of our people and words of admiration for the courage of Ukraine’s defenders,” Mr Zelensky wrote on Facebook
US Representative Michael McCaul, a Texas Republican and former chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said Mr Graham’s death could strengthen momentum to pass a bill that would increase US sanctions on Russia
“The best way we can honour Lindsey is to pass his bill,” Mr McCaul told Reuters
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement that Israel had lost one of its greatest supporters. “
I have lost a beloved friend,” Mr Netanyahu said
Mr Netanyahu expects to attend Mr Graham’s funeral, according to a senior Israeli official
