Lindsey Graham's sudden death prompts medical questions, political reactions
Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel examines the shocking death of Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., at 71. Siegel discusses the emergency response, including chest pains and a delayed entry due to a deadbolt. He connects the death to a family history of heart attacks and considers how a long flight to Ukraine may have contributed to heart stress, dehydration, and a fatal arrhythmia.
The District of Columbia's Office of the Chief Medical Examiner on Sunday released preliminary findings indicating Sen. Lindsey Graham suffered an aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease before his death.
Graham, 71, was pronounced dead at George Washington University Hospital at 10:23 p.m. Saturday, according to a joint statement from the Metropolitan Police Department and the District of Columbia's Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. An autopsy was performed Sunday.
The medical examiner emphasized that the findings are not final and that Graham's death certificate will remain pending while toxicological and microscopic testing is completed.
"The preliminary examination findings were: Aortic Dissection due to Arteriosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease," the medical examiner's office said in a statement.
SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM DEAD AT 71 AFTER 'BRIEF AND SUDDEN' ILLNESS, OFFICE SAYS
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., speaks to reporters after a briefing by Trump administration officials on U.S. strikes on Iran at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on March 3, 2026. (Nathan Posner/Anadolu)
The office emphasized that the findings are preliminary and that Graham's death certificate remains pending. Officials said comprehensive toxicological and microscopic testing is routinely conducted when an autopsy is performed in the District and must be completed before the death certificate is updated with the cause and manner of death.
An aortic dissection is a tear in the inner layer of the aorta, the body's largest artery, that allows blood to flow between the layers of the vessel wall, according to the Mayo Clinic. The condition is considered a life-threatening medical emergency that can lead to severe internal bleeding or organ damage.
Arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease refers to the buildup of plaque inside the arteries, which can restrict blood flow and increase the risk of serious heart and vascular complications.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, Member of the US Senate, speaks to the people during the demonstration for human rights in Iran at Theresienwiese during the 62nd Munich Security Conference on February 14, 2026 in Munich, Germany. (Hannes Magerstaedt/Getty Images)
The release of the preliminary findings comes after Graham, 71, died Saturday night, shocking colleagues in Washington and across the nation.
Graham, a Republican who was first elected to the Senate in 2002 after serving four terms in the House of Representatives, became one of the chamber's most influential voices on national security, foreign policy and the judiciary. He chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee during President Donald Trump's first term and was one of the president's closest allies on judicial nominations and defense policy.
A U.S. flag flies at half-staff over the Capitol on July 12, 2026, after the death of Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. Emergency dispatch audio reviewed by Fox News Digital documents the emergency response before his office announced his death. (Kevin Carter/Getty Images)
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Following news of Graham's death, tributes poured in from lawmakers across the political spectrum, with colleagues remembering his decades of public service and his influence on some of the Senate's most consequential debates.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner said it will update Graham's death certificate after toxicological and microscopic testing is complete.
