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Funeral arrangements for Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) have yet to be finalized as world leaders reportedly seek to pay tribute to the longtime lawmaker, according to a report.
Graham died unexpectedly late Saturday at the age of 71. Initial findings determined the cause of death for the veteran Republican politician as “aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.”
Scheduling final goodbyes for Graham, who was first elected to Congress in 1994 and served in the Senate since 2002, has been “complicated” by several factors in his home state of South Carolina, according to The Post and Courier.
World leaders have been eager to attend, and an offer has been made for Graham to lie in state at the Capitol, the outlet reported, citing Senator Tim Scott (R-SC).
While The Post and Courier didn’t say which world leaders hoped to be at Graham’s funeral, the Times of Israel also reported Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had delayed a planned trip to the United States next week until the end of the month because that’s when Graham’s service is expected to be held.
An offer for Graham’s body to lie in state has also raised scheduling wrinkles, Scott told The Post and Courier, with organizers trying to figure out “when the National Cathedral would be made available.”
Scheduling the National Cathedral and world leaders for the same time “has made it a little more difficult to get it done this week, which now it is an impossibility for any funeral arrangements this week,” Scott said of the funeral.
Graham’s sister, Darline Graham Nordone, was sworn in on Tuesday to finish out his term, and a special primary election to determine a Republican candidate for the seat is set for Aug. 11.
A rep for Lindsey Graham’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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