The Republican Senator representing South Carolina in the U.S. Senate, Lindsey Graham, has passed away at the age of 71 after a brief illness.
In a statement released by his office on social media on Saturday, it was announced that Graham died as a result of a "brief and unexpected" illness, without providing specific details about the cause of his death.
The statement said his family has asked the public to continue praying for them and to respect their privacy during this difficult time.
Graham was first elected as a U.S. Senator in 2002, and was in his fourth term while seeking re-election. Prior to that, he served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003.
Although he ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016 and initially criticized Donald Trump, he later became one of President Trump's key political allies.
Graham was one of Trump's advisors on foreign affairs, particularly on issues concerning Iran and Russia. Just one day before his death, he announced an agreement with the Trump administration to continue imposing new sanctions on Russia.
Throughout his political career, Graham was known for his强硬 stance on foreign policy. He was a proponent of tough measures against Iran and supported the Trump administration's actions in Middle Eastern conflicts.
His death comes at a time when there is ongoing discussion about the need for greater transparency regarding the health of U.S. lawmakers, following several of them who have long struggled with health issues.