Preliminary Report Says Aortic Tear Likely Caused Lindsey Graham's Death

The office of senior US Senator Lindsey Graham has released new details about his death, saying preliminary findings indicate he likely died from an aortic dissection, or tear in the body's main artery.

In a statement issued on Monday, Graham's office, citing the District of Columbia medical examiner, said the preliminary report found that the fatal condition was linked to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The official cause of death will be confirmed after toxicological and microscopic examinations are completed.

An aortic dissection occurs when the inner wall of the aorta—the main artery carrying blood from the heart—tears, allowing blood to flow between the layers of the vessel wall. It is a life-threatening medical emergency.

Graham's office first announced his death on Sunday, saying the 71-year-old senator had died following a "brief and sudden illness."

A Republican senator from South Carolina, Graham was one of President Donald Trump's closest allies in Congress and was widely known for advocating a more assertive US foreign policy. He was a strong supporter of military action against Iran and had consistently urged both the Trump and Biden administrations to maintain robust support for Ukraine in its war against Russia.