Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., died late Saturday night following a “brief and sudden illness,” according to a statement released by his office. He was 71.

His office did not immediately reply to a request for information on his cause of death. But audio reviewed by NPR shows that emergency services personnel responded to a call of cardiac arrest at Graham’s Washington home Saturday night.

An adaptable and sometimes controversial dealmaker, Graham was the last surviving member of an influential group of Senate defense hawks. During his near-quarter century in the Senate, Graham was also instrumental in enacting President Trump’s policy and staffing priorities — after first starting out as a fierce Trump critic.

  • neuracnu@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
    21·
    16 days ago

    “…Trump ally…”

    Here’s what Graham said about Trump in 2016:

    “He’s a race-baiting, xenophobic, religious bigot … He doesn’t represent my [Republican] party … I don’t think he has a clue about anything … He is empowering radical Islam … You know how you make America great again? Tell Donald Trump to go to hell.” He added, “I’d rather lose without Donald Trump than try to win with him.”

    After Trump was elected, in March 2017, Graham met with Trump and did a complete 180. He’d spend the next decade kissing Trump’s ass. He spent his life being a war hawk, an enemy of LGBTQ human rights and generally a walking talking POS.

    He should be remembered as a self-serving weasely shitheel with the moral resolve of wet toilet paper.