U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham Dies at 71; Sanctions Bill Remains Pending

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina, died on the night of July 11 at age 71. Emergency responders were dispatched to his Capitol Hill residence after a report of cardiac arrest.

The medical examiner preliminarily determined the cause of death to be a ruptured aortic aneurysm linked to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Graham had returned from a trip to Ukraine the day before. On July 11 Graham joined Senators Jeanne Shaheen, Democrat of New Hampshire, and Roger Wicker, Republican of Mississippi, in announcing that the Trump administration had agreed to support updated Russia sanctions legislation.

The measure targets purchasers of Russian oil and natural gas and includes a proposed 500 percent tariff on U.S. imports from such countries. The bill was first introduced more than a year earlier by Senator Richard Blumenthal, Democrat of Connecticut.

Graham spoke by phone with President Trump that Saturday evening about his Ukraine trip and the sanctions legislation. Graham told reporters in Ukraine that the agreement meant the sanctions bill was going to become law. Senators from both parties have called for passage of the sanctions bill to honor Graham.

Shaheen stated that passing the sanctions bill would be a fitting tribute and that there can be no more fitting memorial than to realize his long-held dream of an independent and secure Ukraine. The cosponsors said they planned to roll out the updated legislation very soon. Graham had been scheduled to appear on NBC's Meet the Press on July 12.

The death certificate remains pending completion of toxicological and microscopic examinations, according to en.protothema.gr.