Emergency dispatch audio reviewed by Fox News Digital reveals the frantic response to Senator Lindsey Graham's Washington, D.C., home Saturday night, where first responders were dispatched for a reported cardiac arrest before his office announced his death Sunday morning. The audio from District of Columbia Fire and EMS radio traffic shows the initial dispatch came shortly after 8 p.m. local time, sending responders to Graham's residence for a cardiac arrest call. Dispatchers relayed that the caller reported the front door was unlocked, but upon arrival, responders found the door locked with no response from inside, prompting a request for Metropolitan Police officers to force entry.
Roughly 20 to 25 minutes after the initial dispatch, radio traffic indicated CPR was in progress as emergency crews worked inside the home. The audio does not identify Graham by name or describe the patient's condition, but authorities could be heard in additional radio traffic stating the incident would be handled as a «Capitol Police matter only.» The final relevant radio traffic came through shortly after 9:30 p.m., providing few additional details about what responders encountered inside the residence or what medical care, if any, was provided before Graham's death.
Graham's office later announced the 71-year-old senator died Saturday evening following a «brief and sudden» illness. «On the evening of Saturday, July 11, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham passed away from a brief and sudden illness,» his office wrote in a statement. «Senator Graham's family appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period.» The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for the District of Columbia released preliminary findings on Sunday suggesting Graham died from an aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. «The preliminary examination findings were: Aortic Dissection due to Arteriosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease,» according to the medical examiner's office. Officials added Graham's death certificate will remain pending until toxicology and microscopic testing are complete.
President Donald Trump paid tribute to Graham in a Truth Social post Saturday night, calling the longtime South Carolina lawmaker «a true American Patriot.» «Senator Lindsey Graham, one of the greatest people and Senators I have ever known, is dead!» Trump wrote. «He was always working, and was a true American Patriot. Lindsey will be greatly missed!!! DETAILS AND ARRANGEMENTS TO FOLLOW. So sad!» World leaders also reacted to the news, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen remembering Graham as a «determined and fearless leader» who worked tirelessly to strengthen sanctions. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney offered condolences, noting Graham «stood resolutely in defense of democracy and freedom, most recently and particularly with Ukraine and its people.»
Graham was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2002 and took office in 2003 after serving four terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. He won re-election three times and was seeking a fifth Senate term after winning the Republican primary last month. He served as chairman of the Senate Budget Committee and sat on the Appropriations, Judiciary, and Environment and Public Works committees. The longtime lawmaker had just met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Friday and was scheduled to appear on NBC's «Meet the Press» Sunday morning. Beyond Congress, Graham served for 33 years in the U.S. Air Force, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, retiring as a colonel in 2015. An Air Force lawyer, he served in Germany during the Cold War, was called to active duty during the Gulf War and later completed multiple Reserve deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan during congressional recesses.
Graham's sudden death has sent shockwaves through the political landscape, with colleagues and adversaries alike reflecting on his legacy. Known for his sharp wit and willingness to cross party lines on certain issues, Graham evolved from a vocal critic of Donald Trump during the 2016 campaign to one of his closest allies in the Senate. His death leaves a significant void in South Carolina's congressional delegation and the Senate Republican caucus, as well as on key committees where he wielded influence over budget, appropriations, and judiciary matters. The medical examiner's office has indicated that the death certificate will be updated once toxicological and microscopic testing are finalized, which could provide further clarity on the circumstances surrounding his death. Fox News Digital has reached out to DC Fire and EMS and the U.S. Capitol Police for additional information about the emergency response, but no further details have been released as of Sunday evening.
