Sen. Lindsey Graham dies at 71 after a brief and sudden illness

Sen. Lindsey Graham died at 71 after a brief and sudden illness, according to confirmation from his office early Sunday. Graham, R-S.C., had been elected to the Senate in 2003 and was a close political ally of President Donald Trump. He died Saturday night “from a brief and sudden illness,” and his office asked for privacy while also thanking people for prayers. He served as chairman of the Senate Budget Committee and was seeking a fifth six-year Senate term in November. Police scanner audio cited by NBC News said emergency responders were called to his Capitol Hill home for “cardiac arrest” on Saturday night. South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster will appoint an interim replacement until Jan. 3, per state law. Graham had recently traveled to Kyiv and met President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday.