Former South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham's colleagues paid tribute to him Monday afternoon on Capitol Hill after his sudden death over the weekend. The longtime senator and close Donald Trump ally unexpectedly passed away on Saturday night due to a 'sudden' heart complication, per statements issued by his office. US Senate Majority Leader John Thune shed tears during his speech on the Senate floor commemorating Graham's legacy. Choking up during his address, Thune noted, 'We will laugh together again,' and also shared that he 'will miss Lindsey's friendship more than [he] can say.' 

Following existing Senate protocol, Graham's desk on the Senate floor was covered in black cloth and topped with a vase of white roses as lawmakers returned to Washington after a two-week recess. Graham's seat will be filled on an interim basis by his sister, Darline Graham Nordone, until the end of his term. Nordone was tapped by South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster on Monday afternoon as the short-term replacement, and the special Republican primary election to choose the nominee to compete for the seat for a full six-year term will take place on August 11th. Graham's colleagues appear ready to welcome Nordone into their ranks.

South Carolina Senator Tim Scott was on stage with McMaster and Nordone in Columbia as she was tapped as his pick. In a statement issued after President Donald Trump gave Nordone his nod, Scott shared that he came to the conclusion 'after speaking with Darline, there is no one better who understands Lindsey's love for family, our state, and our country.' Alabama Senator Katie Britt, another close Graham ally, shared that 'there is no one more fitting to finish Lindsey's term than Darline, whom he loved dearly and who understands the needs of South Carolinians so deeply.'

'I stand ready to welcome Darline to the Senate and work alongside her to continue the work of my dear friend. There is no doubt that Lindsey will be smiling down from above as she is sworn in to fight for the state and nation to which he dedicated his life and had his unwavering commitment,' Britt added. The vacancy for South Carolina's Senate seat was created by Graham's unexpected death, which was announced just after 2am Eastern time Sunday morning. Per a statement issued by his office just before 5pm that day, 'aortic dissection due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease,' was the cause of death.

'The death certificate will be PENDING until all the toxicological and microscopic testing are finalized, and at that point the death certificate will be updated to reflect the cause of death and appropriately classify the manner of death,' Graham's spokesman added. A 911 call for 'cardiac arrest' was placed from Graham's residence around 8.30pm on Saturday evening. FBI agents have been spotted outside of Graham's Washington, DC residence in the days following his death, and director Kash Patel noted on Sunday that the agency was 'assisting local authorities and has made every necessary resource available.' Graham was a vocal supporter of US involvement in conflicts abroad, including both the Russia-Ukraine war and the Iran clashes.