The District of Columbia's Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has released preliminary findings indicating that Senator Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., died from an aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The office emphasized that these findings are not final, and the death certificate remains pending.
Toxicological and microscopic testing are still being completed, according to the medical examiner's office. An aortic dissection is a tear in the inner layer of the aorta, the body's largest artery, which can lead to severe internal bleeding or organ damage. Arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease involves the buildup of plaque within the arteries, a condition that can restrict blood flow and heighten the risk of serious heart and vascular complications.
Senator Graham, 71, died Saturday night, prompting shock among his colleagues. A Republican first elected to the Senate in 2002, Graham served four terms in the House of Representatives and became a prominent voice on national security, foreign policy, and the judiciary. He chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee during President Donald Trump's first term and was a close ally of the president on judicial nominations and defense policy.
Tributes from lawmakers across the political spectrum have poured in following the news of Graham's death, with colleagues remembering his extensive public service and influence on significant Senate debates. The medical examiner's office stated it will update Graham's death certificate once the remaining tests are finalized.