Republican Senator Lindsey Graham Has Died

Senator Lindsey Graham passed away Saturday evening after a brief and sudden illness, his office's communications director said Sunday morning in a post on X.

Graham, 71, was a prominent Republican senator from South Carolina. Early in his career, he was a vocal critic of President Donald Trump before becoming one of his most loyal allies on Capitol Hill.

"Senator Graham’s family appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period", his office added.

Graham was elected to the Senate in 2002. Before serving in the upper house, he was elected to the House of Representatives in 1994, representing South Carolina's third congressional district, according to his website.

His website, which described him as a defense advocate, stated that he "consistently pushed for outcomes in the War on Terror that protect our long-term national security interests".

Graham most recently served as chairman of the Senate Budget Committee. He was also a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senate Judiciary Committee and Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Graham was unmarried and lived in Seneca, South Carolina.

(Reuters, im)