Lindsey Graham, US Senator and Trump loyalist, dies at 71 due to 'sudden illness'

Longtime Republican Senator from South Carolina and the strong political ally of US President Donald Trump, Lindsey Graham, has passed away at age 71. His office confirmed that the veteran Republican politician passed away on Saturday night.

“On the evening of Saturday, July 11, US Senator Lindsey Graham passed away from a brief and sudden illness,” according to the statement. “Senator Graham’s family appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period.”

Graham was first elected to the House of Representatives back in 1994; he became a senator in 2002. Interestingly, he was running for reelection this year. Over the years, Graham has been a staunch ally of Trump on several matters. However, he has broken with the president on some issues, such as foreign policy.

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“He’s outstanding. He’s been at my side for a long time,” Trump said in a tele-rally for Graham last month, acknowledging that the two men had duelled for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination. “After that fight was over, we were best of friends, and he’s helped me as much as anybody in the Senate.”

What happens now

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster (R) issued a statement stating that Graham was “the fiercest of fighters for South Carolina and America — and a loyal and steadfast friend.” It is pertinent to note that under South Carolina law, McMaster can make an immediate appointment to fill Graham’s seat.

Graham celebrated his 71st birthday on Thursday. Interestingly, he recently returned from Ukraine after meeting with Russian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Following his trip to Kyiv, Graham told reporters that a bipartisan group of senators had reached an agreement with the White House to impose new sanctions on Russia in an effort to end that country’s long-running war with Ukraine.

Eyewitnesses told The Washington Post that emergency medical responders worked to stabilise him at his home on Saturday night and transport him to a hospital. As per the report, emergency medical services received a call around 8:30 pm (local time) for a person suffering chest pains at a Capitol Hill home owned by Graham.

About 25 mins later, emergency personnel said that CPR was given and that a man at the house was suffering a cardiac arrest. Not only this, a person who lives on Graham’s street shared photos of an older man being taken from Graham’s home by wheeled stretcher and loaded into an ambulance around 9:30 pm local time. The man, who is now presumed to be Graham, was taken to George Washington University Hospital.