Lindsey Graham died from a tear in his aorta, according to preliminary findings from the DC Office of the Chief Medical Examiner on Sunday.
The South Carolina Senator passed away on Saturday at 71 years old after suffering “from a brief and sudden illness,” his office shared earlier in the weekend. A 911 call indicated he had been experiencing chest pains before he passed.
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Now, we’re getting a better idea of what may have happened. An initial investigation by the medical examiner, which was released by the politician’s office, has determined he died from “Aortic Dissection due to Arteriosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease.” According to the Mayo Clinic, this is a tear in the inner layer of the aorta — the body’s main artery. When blood rushes through the tear, it can go outside the artery, which is often deadly. As for how this happened, the medical examiner said the tear was caused by the hardening and narrowing of Lindsey’s arteries due to plaque buildup.
Importantly, though, these are not the final results of the autopsy, and things could change throughout the investigation. The medical examiner’s office said:
“The death certificate will be PENDING until all the toxicological and microscopic testing are finalized and at that point the death certificate will be updated to reflect the cause of death and appropriately classify the manner of death.”
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The following information is from the Medical Examiner of the District of Columbia’s preliminary findings regarding Senator Graham’s death:
“The preliminary examination findings were:
– Aortic Dissection due to Arteriosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease.
“The death… https://t.co/IgmXTGo1L4— Taylor Reidy (@taylor_reidy) July 12, 2026
R.I.P.
[Image via MEGA/WENN]