Graham asked a staffer to call 911 after reporting chest pains, GOP senator says
New Details Emerge About Senator Graham’s Final Hours
Emergency Call Captured Before Tragic Death
Graham asked a staffer to call 911 – According to Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville, a critical moment occurred on Saturday evening when Senator Lindsey Graham reached out to his scheduler while experiencing chest discomfort. Tuberville shared with reporters on Monday that one of his own staff members happened to be present during this pivotal phone call. The senator, who passed away recently, contacted his scheduler to report his symptoms and requested that emergency assistance be summoned immediately.
“Lindsey called, called basically, said, ‘Listen, I’m having chest pains. You know, I need to do something,'” Tuberville recounted, providing insight into what the senator communicated during that urgent conversation. When the scheduler inquired whether Graham had already contacted emergency services, the senator’s response was clear and direct.
“No, that’s the reason I called you,” Graham reportedly told her, explaining why he had reached out in the first place.
Tuberville noted that by the time the scheduler arrived at the location, emergency responders had already broken through the door and were actively treating the senator. This account provides additional clarity regarding the sequence of events that unfolded before Graham’s passing, lending further support to what has been documented about the emergency telephone call.
Timeline and Context of the Emergency
Earlier reporting from CNN indicated that emergency personnel were sent to a Washington DC location approximately at 8:30 pm Eastern Time. This dispatch was triggered by a report of someone experiencing chest pain, as captured in audio recordings available through Broadcastify. The recordings suggest that the person who placed the call was traveling from Baltimore and was en route to Graham’s residence at the time.
Adding to the circumstances, Graham had recently completed a trip to Ukraine before returning home. President Donald Trump confirmed to CNN that he had spoken with the senator shortly before Graham’s death occurred. During their conversation, the two discussed Graham’s proposed voter identification legislation, known as the “SAVE America Act,” along with the senator’s recent international travels.
“He said, ‘I’m tired because it’s a long trip,’ but other than that, he was – he was fine,” Trump remembered about their exchange.
Medical Findings and Ongoing Questions
Taylor Reidy, who serves as communications director for Graham, previously disclosed that the District of Columbia medical examiner’s office had reached a preliminary conclusion regarding the cause of death. The findings pointed to complications arising from an aortic dissection linked to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. This condition involves a tear in the inner layer of the aorta, which serves as the primary artery carrying blood throughout the body.
While an aortic dissection differs from a heart attack, the symptoms can appear quite similar. These include chest or stomach pain, difficulty breathing, and potential loss of consciousness. Medical professionals are still awaiting a complete autopsy to provide final confirmation of the cause of death.
Republican Senator John Cornyn expressed his desire for the toxicology report to be made public. He believes this document could help eliminate any speculation about potential foul play and address various theories circulating on social media platforms.
“We, you know, I saw the initial diagnosis of a dissected aorta — which is terrible, I mean, obviously, that could cause his death — but given where he was and the sorts of things he was advocating for, I think we just ought to resolve all those questions by seeing what the toxicology reports show,” Cornyn stated.
A Life Dedicated to Service
Tuberville provided additional context about the scheduler who made the 911 call on Saturday. This individual previously worked in Tuberville’s office and was at a restaurant viewing the World Cup alongside one of his staff members when Graham’s call came through.
Reflecting on Graham’s dedication, Tuberville offered a poignant observation about the senator’s lifestyle and priorities.
“Lindsey basically worked himself to death,” Tuberville said. “Most of us have families. He didn’t have any family, and if we had a couple of days off, he went to that airport. He went somewhere to try to work out something for our country.”
CNN’s Morgan Rimmer and Ted Barrett contributed to this report.