Heartbreaking Police scanner audio reveals emergency response before Lindsey Graham’s death at 71 - GMT - G1
New details have emerged about the final moments before the death of Senator Lindsey Graham, with police scanner audio providing a glimpse into the emergency response at his Washington, D.C., home on the night he died.
According to police scanner audio reported by NBC News, emergency crews rushed to Graham’s residence after receiving a report of a cardiac arrest, with responders ultimately requesting police assistance to gain entry into the home.
Emergency responders requested forced entry
The audio, reported by NBC News, captured emergency personnel arriving at Graham’s home on Saturday evening after a 911 call reported a cardiac arrest at the property.
According to the report, responders initially struggled to reach the patient.
Emergencypreparedness guide
A short time later, the same responder requested assistance from the Metropolitan Police Department, saying officers would be needed to force entry into the residence.
Approximately 20 minutes later, another transmission indicated that CPR was underway, with the responder requesting a CPR adviser while confirming that resuscitation efforts were in progress.
Senator dies at 71
Graham’s office later confirmed that the veteran Republican lawmaker had died following what it described as a “brief and sudden illness.”
The statement did not disclose a cause of death or provide additional medical details.
“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!”
Before his death, Graham had recently returned from Ukraine, where he met with President Volodymyr Zelensky and visited a munitions factory.
President Donald Trump with Lindsey Graham / Instagram
For years, Graham remained one of President Trump’s closest allies in Congress and was widely recognized for his outspoken views on national security and foreign policy.
His office has not released additional information about the circumstances surrounding his death beyond describing it as a brief and sudden illness.
As tributes continue to arrive from colleagues and world leaders, the newly reported emergency communications provide a sobering account of the final efforts made to reach and assist the longtime senator during his final moments.
BREAKING:💔Trump Issues Statement Regarding Health of Mitch McConnell
Mitch McConnell Health Update: Speculation Continues Amid Limited Public Information
Weeks after former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was hospitalized following a medical emergency at his Washington, D.C. home, questions persist about the 84-year-old Kentucky Republican’s condition and his ability to complete his Senate term, which ends in January 2027.
McConnell was reportedly found unconscious on or around June 14, with initial accounts indicating CPR was administered. His office has released few details since then, describing him as receiving “excellent care,” continuing to improve, and working with staff on Kentucky and Senate matters remotely while in recovery.
Later updates from McConnell’s team clarified that the senator suffered a fall, was briefly unconscious, and was treated for a mild case of pneumonia. He has since moved to a rehabilitation facility to regain strength and stated he does not plan an immediate return to the Senate floor.
Political Reactions and Calls for Transparency
White House: President Trump recently said he had “no idea” about McConnell’s current status and had not spoken with him since the hospitalization.
Kentucky Governor: Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear sent a letter to McConnell requesting a full public update on his health, citing transparency obligations to constituents.
Senate Colleagues: Responses from fellow Republicans have been mixed. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said early on that McConnell “sounded good” in a conversation. However, Sen. Mike Lee noted that many members remain uninformed about details.
The limited information has sparked online speculation and criticism, including unverified claims about his condition. McConnell’s office has pushed back against rumors, noting ongoing improvement.
Broader Context
This situation has renewed debate over health transparency for aging lawmakers. McConnell has a history of health challenges, including previous incidents like a concussion in 2023. As of mid-July 2026, he remains absent from the Senate as it resumes work, narrowing the Republican majority’s margin on key committees.
No official timeline for his return has been confirmed, and public frustration continues over the lack of recent visual updates or more detailed medical disclosures.
This remains a developing story. For the most current details, check official statements from Sen. McConnell’s office or major news outlets.
'NATIONAL EMERGENCY' DECLARED, TRUMP SURGES US TROOPS AFTER 'MASS CASUALTIES’
Over 500 Dead In Venezuela As Rescuers Race To Find Quake Victims
Rescuers scramble to reach survivors before the “golden window” to save people closes, as at least 589 people have died in Venezuela’s twin quakes.
The country is mired in a political and financial crisis. The second quake was the strongest in the country in more than a century.
Close to 3,000 people have been wounded, many more are missing, and others remain trapped under tons of rubble.
President Donald Trump has vowed to ramp up help to Venezuela following Thursday’s quake.
“We took over Venezuela in less than one day, and the oil is flowing, and we’re getting along with them great,” Trump said in remarks from the Rose Garden Thursday evening.
“We’re going to, by the way, help them with their big – they had a tremendous earthquake last night. Did you read about massive, massive in Caracas? But we’re going to help them out,” Trump added.
A Marine Corps general flew into Caracas on Thursday to help lead the US military’s earthquake relief effort in Venezuela, where, just six months ago, US special forces launched a deadly raid to capture President Nicolás Maduro.
Maj. Gen. Kevin J. Jarrard is the senior Southern Command official on the ground.
The military said he is to “plan, coordinate, and direct the flow of rescue teams, equipment, and aid into the hardest-hit areas.”
US aircraft are flying search crews and supplies in, while State Department personnel are coordinating the broader response.
Southern Command, which directs US military activities in Latin America and the Caribbean, said it was “surging” forces to the region at the request of the interim government.
Relief teams from around the world are also mobilizing aid, and foreign aid pledges are pouring in.
“We haven’t slept a wink in our efforts to save lives,” acting President Delcy Rodríguez said on Friday.
Rodríguez also praised the arrival of international assistance and emergency crews, saying, “We have saved dozens of lives.”
More than 100 buildings collapsed in the La Guaira state, the area hardest hit by the double quake that struck Venezuela on Wednesday, Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said.
During a broadcast on state-run Venezolana de Televisión (VTV), Cabello said Caraballeda and Catia La Mar were the hardest-hit areas in the state and said 11,500 security personnel would be deployed to La Guaira on Friday to “guarantee peace.”
Venezuelan forces deployed to the area hit by Wednesday’s double earthquake are still searching for people who may be trapped under the rubble.
In an interview granted to Venezuelan public television (VTV), the Sectoral Vice President of Public Works and Services, Juan José Ramírez, stated that operations are being carried out with different machinery, such as percussion equipment that allows for the controlled breaking of concrete, with the hope of finding and rescuing more people alive.
Ramírez appealed to the public to let specialized civil protection teams do their job.
“Many times, volunteers trying to help can actually make things worse,” the official said.
Ramírez emphasized that the priority is “to save lives,” while efforts are also underway to restore basic services such as water and communications.
The US Treasury Department said Thursday it will permit “all transactions” with Venezuela “related to earthquake relief efforts.”
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) authorizes only partial and temporary relief from restrictions from June 26 through October 23.
The general license allows the processing and transfer of funds on behalf of third-country individuals “to or from” Venezuela, as long as they support operations covered by the specific authorization.
Venezuelans are frustrated by the slow pace of the government’s rescue response in the immediate aftermath of the twin quakes that struck on Wednesday.
“People are really frustrated. They are scared because they know that they don’t have a state that will fulfill its role. So they know that nobody is going to go there and help them,” said Venezuelan economist Jorge Jraissati.
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