World Leaders Prompt Change To Lindsey Graham Funeral Plans

Memorial services for the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) will be held in Washington, D.C., and South Carolina on July 28 and Columbia and Pickens County, South Carolina 29 after funeral plans were delayed to accommodate foreign dignitaries, a staffer revealed on Friday. 

Graham’s funeral was initially expected to take place this week, but the services were delayed after multiple international leaders expressed a desire to attend, according to Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC).

“I think my understanding is that the offer has been made to lie in state,” Scott told News19 on Wednesday, stressing that final arrangements had not been decided. 

“The process of figuring out when the National Cathedral would be made available at the exact same time that the global leaders who want to come and all the other national leaders who will be there has made it a little more difficult,” he added.

Last weekend, Graham unexpectedly died at his Capitol Hill home in what the medical examiner’s office believes to be an aortic dissection. The life-threatening condition is a tear in the inner layer of the aorta, the body’s largest artery, which carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. Before collapsing, Graham reportedly told a staffer he was experiencing chest pain. 

On Capitol Hill, Graham’s sister, Darline Graham Nordone, was sworn in to fill her brother’s seat for the remainder of his term, which expires in January. 

The Associated Press reported that Nordone has privately expressed interest in running for the full Senate term, citing sources who say she has begun conversations about a potential campaign. 

Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and Reps. Russell Fry, Nancy Mace, and Ralph Norman are among the other prominent Republicans considering a run.

The filing period for a special primary runs from July 21 to July 28, and the primary is scheduled for Aug. 11.

Behind closed doors, Republican senators on Tuesday watched an emotional tribute featuring memorable quotes from their late colleague. 

“Here’s what I can tell you: that life can change just like that,” Graham is heard saying, with overlay footage showing him greeting world leaders. “Don’t take it for granted. Don’t take relationships for granted.”