Sen. Lindsey Graham Dies at 71 After Sudden Illness

Sen. Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina and a longtime political ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, died Saturday night following a brief and sudden illness, his office confirmed early Sunday. He was 71, according to an NBC News report.

Sen. Lindsey Graham speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill before his death at age 71. (Photo: Gage Skidmore Flickr)

In a statement, Graham's office said he died Saturday night "from a brief and sudden illness."

"Senator Graham's family appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period," the statement said.

Graham was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2002 and took office in 2003. At the time of his death, he served as chairman of the Senate Budget Committee and was seeking a fifth six-year Senate term in the November elections.

Widely recognized as one of the Senate's most influential Republicans, Graham was a leading voice on defense, foreign policy, and national security.

According to police scanner audio obtained by NBC News, emergency personnel responded to a report of a cardiac arrest at Graham's Capitol Hill residence on Saturday evening.

Photographs reviewed by NBC News showed paramedics transporting a person on a stretcher from Graham's home to a waiting ambulance, while police and fire personnel responded to the scene.

Graham had recently returned from a visit to Kyiv, where he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday.

The news comes as fellow Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell continues to recover after being hospitalized following a separate medical emergency last month.