US Senator Lindsey Graham Dies After Brief Illness

The office of US Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, announced his death on Sunday evening after a "short and sudden illness."

In a statement released on Sunday, the office said, "On the evening of Saturday, July 11, US Senator Lindsey Graham passed away following a brief and unexpected illness." It added that "the senator's family appreciates the prayers and condolences at this time and requests privacy during this difficult period."

Lindsey Graham was born on July 9, 1955, in Center, South Carolina. After earning a doctorate in law, he joined the US Air Force as part of the military legal corps, serving as a defense attorney and prosecutor for the Air Force in Europe between 1984 and 1988 before moving into private legal practice.

Graham entered politics in the 1990s, serving in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1993 to 1995. He was then elected to the US House of Representatives, representing South Carolina from 1995 until 2003, when he was elected to the US Senate. He became one of the most prominent Republican voices in Congress until his death.

He was known for his hardline stances on foreign policy and his support for military intervention, particularly regarding Iran. He was also a leading advocate for strengthening US-Israeli relations.

Although he sharply criticized Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign, Graham later became one of the president's closest allies within the Republican Party.