Sen. Lindsey Graham died of aortic dissection, medical examiner says
Lindsey Graham’s sudden death raises medical questions and political backlash
Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel examines the shocking death of Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., at age 71. Siegel discusses emergency response, including chest pains and delayed entry due to bedpans. He attributes the death to a family history of heart attacks and considers how a long flight to Ukraine could have contributed to cardiac stress, dehydration and fatal arrhythmia.
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The District of Columbia Chief Medical Examiner’s Office on Sunday released preliminary findings showing that Sen. Lindsey Graham suffered an aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease before his death.
The coroner emphasized that the findings are not final and that Graham’s death certificate will remain pending until toxicological and microscopic testing is completed.
“Preliminary examination findings were: Aortic Dissection Due to Arteriosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease,” the medical examiner’s office said in a statement.
YOU. THE OFFICE ANNOUNCES THAT LINDSEY GRAHAM DIED AT THE AGE OF 71 AFTER A ‘SHORT AND SUDDEN’ ILLNESS
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R.S.C., speaks to reporters following a briefing by Trump administration officials on U.S. attacks on Iran at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on March 3, 2026. (Nathan Posner/Anatolia)
The office emphasized that the findings are preliminary and Graham’s death certificate is pending. Toxicological and microscopic tests must be completed before the death certificate can be updated to reflect the cause and manner of death, officials said.
According to the Mayo Clinic, an aortic dissection is a tear in the inner layer of the aorta, the body’s largest artery, that allows blood to flow between layers of the vessel wall. This condition is considered a life-threatening medical emergency that can lead to serious internal bleeding or organ damage.
Arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease refers to the buildup of plaque inside the arteries that can restrict blood flow and increase the risk of serious cardiovascular complications.
LINDSEY GRAHAM, THE SOUTH CAROLINA SENATOR WHO RISED FROM SMALL CITY ROOTS TO GOP POWER COMMAND, DIES AT 71
U.S. Senate Member Senator Lindsey Graham addresses the public during a demonstration for human rights in Iran at Theresienwiese during the 62nd Munich Security Conference on February 14, 2026 in Munich, Germany. (Hannes Magerstaedt/Getty Images)
The release of preliminary findings came after Graham, 71, died Saturday night, shocking his colleagues in Washington and across the country.
Republican Graham, who was first elected to the Senate in 2002 after serving four terms in the House of Representatives, has become one of the chamber’s most influential voices on national security, foreign policy and the judiciary. He chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee during President Donald Trump’s first term and was one of the president’s closest allies on judicial nominations and defense policy.
A U.S. flag flies at half-staff over the Capitol on July 12, 2026, following the death of Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. Emergency dispatch audio reviewed by Fox News Digital documents the emergency response before his office announced his death. (Kevin Carter/Getty Images)
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Following the news of Graham’s death, tributes poured in from lawmakers across the political spectrum; colleagues recalled his decades of public service and his influence on some of the Senate’s most important debates.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner said it will update Graham’s death certificate once toxicological and microscopic testing is completed.
