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Sen. Lindsey Graham died from a ruptured aorta caused by chronic heart disease, according to preliminary findings released Sunday by the District of Columbia’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
The initial report determined that the 71-year-old South Carolina Republican died from “Aortic Dissection due to Arteriosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease,” according to findings released by Graham’s office.
An aortic dissection is a tear in the body’s main artery and is a rare condition that most commonly affects older men, according to the Mayo Clinic.
The medical examiner’s office said additional testing is underway before a final death certificate is issued.
“The death certificate will be PENDING until all the toxicological and microscopic testing are finalized and at that point the death certificate will be updated to reflect the cause of death and appropriately classify the manner of death,” the office said.
Emergency responders were dispatched to Graham’s Capitol Hill home around 8:30 p.m. Saturday after receiving a report of a person experiencing chest pains, according to emergency scanner traffic.
Paramedics performed CPR before transporting Graham to George Washington University Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Graham’s office announced his death Sunday morning.
“On the evening of Saturday, July 11, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham passed away from a brief and sudden illness. Senator Graham’s family appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period,” the statement said.
According to published reports, Graham had a family history of heart disease. His father, Florence James Graham, died of a heart attack in his late 60s.
Graham had served in the Senate for more than two decades and was a leading voice on national security and foreign policy. He strongly supported U.S. military engagement overseas, advocated for continued assistance to Ukraine following Russia’s invasion and had recently returned from a trip to Kyiv.
Although Graham and Trump were once political rivals during the 2016 Republican presidential primary, the two later became close allies, with Graham emerging as one of the president’s strongest supporters in the Senate.