Sen. Lindsey Graham dies at 71 after sudden illness

By Karina Tsui, CNN

(CNN) — US Sen. Lindsey Graham, the longtime Republican from South Carolina and ally of President Donald Trump, has died “from a brief and sudden illness,” a spokesperson for his office told CNN.

First elected to the US Senate in 2002, Graham was running for a fifth term in this fall’s midterm elections. He turned 71 last week.

Graham briefly ran for the Republican nomination for president in 2015 and was a Trump critic. Graham eventually became Trump’s close political ally during his first term and one of his most outspoken advocates.

Graham has served as the chairman of the highly influential Senate Judiciary Committee and the Budget Committee, though he was perhaps most known as a foreign policy hawk.

Serving in the Senate for more than two decades, Graham’s political career was marked by his close relationship to two giants in the Republican Party: Trump and the late-Sen. John McCain of Arizona.

Trump paid tribute to Graham in post on his Truth Social platform early Sunday.

“Senator Lindsey Graham, one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known, is dead! He was always working, and was a true American Patriot. Lindsey will be greatly missed!!!” the president wrote.

Graham’s spokesperson did not disclose further details about the senator’s illness.

“Senator Graham’s family appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period,” the spokesperson said.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

The-CNN-Wire
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