Senator Lindsey Graham died at 71 after brief illness

Senator Lindsey Graham died at age 71 after a brief and sudden illness, according to reports. Graham reportedly told an unnamed person he felt unwell after a call with President Donald Trump. " "I can't die now. I still need to do the Russia sanctions, get Iran sorted out and do Israeli-Saudi normalization," Graham said, according to the report.

Medical findings An aortic dissection occurs when a tear forms in the inner wall of the aorta. The condition is a life-threatening medical emergency. Graham's office stated the death certificate remains pending until toxicological and microscopic testing are completed.

m. notifying him of Graham's death. " Graham had recently returned from Ukraine and had renewed White House support for sanctions legislation targeting Russia. A senator who traveled with Graham overseas said his death should prompt passage of the sanctions package.

The Senate is scheduled to return on Monday. Graham's death leaves a vacancy in South Carolina's Senate seat that the state's governor must fill for the remainder of the year.