The Federal Bureau of Investigation has questioned neighbors of the late Senator Lindsey Graham as part of its ongoing investigation into his death. Approximately 20 agents visited Graham's Capitol Hill residence on Monday, a day after initial FBI involvement at the scene. The agents reportedly inquired about any unusual activity observed in the hours leading up to the senator's passing.
Graham, 71, died on Saturday night. Preliminary findings from the DC medical examiner's office indicate the cause of death was aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. However, the circumstances of his death have drawn increased scrutiny due to his recent activities and public pronouncements.
Just prior to his death, Graham had returned from a trip that included visits to Turkey and Ukraine. While in Kyiv, he met with President Volodymyr Zelensky and toured a drone factory. He also met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Ankara, discussing efforts to counter Iran's influence in the region.
Graham was a vocal critic of Iran and a staunch supporter of former President Donald Trump's policies regarding the country. His death has been acknowledged by Iranian state television. Online speculation, amplified by some pro-Iranian accounts and Trump loyalists, has raised questions about potential foul play, though law enforcement has not presented any evidence to support such theories. The FBI has stated it is investigating out of an abundance of caution.
Senator Graham had spoken with former President Trump on Saturday evening shortly after returning from Ukraine. Trump described their conversation, stating the senator "sounded a little bit tired, but perfect." Graham had been advocating for increased pressure on Russia regarding the conflict in Ukraine and had also been involved in efforts to secure Senate passage of a Russia sanctions package.
In the days before his death, Graham had publicly posted about facing criticism, including a post featuring a protester holding a sign with his head in crosshairs, to which he responded, "At least they used a good photo of me. Judge me by my enemies."
Senator John Cornyn, speaking to reporters on Monday, expressed a desire to see the results of Graham's toxicology report, stating, "Given where he was and the sorts of things he was advocating for, I think we just ought to resolve all those questions by seeing what the toxicology reports show."
A person who spoke with Graham on the night of his death reported that the senator had complained of feeling unwell but declined immediate medical attention, intending to wait until after a scheduled appearance on NBC's Meet the Press. He was pronounced dead hours later.
The Metropolitan Police Department is leading the death investigation, with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner expected to release official findings in the coming days.