U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, the longtime Republican lawmaker from South Carolina and a prominent figure in American politics, has died at the age of 71 following a brief and sudden illness, his office announced.
Graham died on the evening of Saturday, July 11, according to a statement released by his office. The exact nature of the illness was not immediately disclosed.
“Senator Graham’s family appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period,” the statement said.
Graham had represented South Carolina in the U.S. Senate since 2003, becoming one of the most influential Republican voices in Congress. He was widely known for his strong positions on foreign policy and national security and, in recent years, as a close ally of President Donald Trump.
Before joining the Senate, Graham served in the U.S. House of Representatives. He also made an unsuccessful bid for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016.
His death brings an end to more than three decades of service in the U.S. Congress and is expected to prompt tributes from political leaders in the United States and around the world.
