President Donald Trump downplayed the idea Tuesday that Sen. Lindsey Graham’s death was a result of any nefarious activity, saying the FBI is “wasting their time” if they’re pursuing conspiracy theories about the matter.
According to four law enforcement sources who spoke with CNN, investigators have no indication that Graham died from unnatural or nefarious causes. One of the sources said local police are conducting a normal review after someone dies, and the FBI has just offered their resources if necessary.
“I know there’s all sorts of conspiracy theories going along, and I don’t think the FBI — I think the FBI is wasting their time if they’re doing that,” Trump said when asked why the FBI was looking into the death or if he had gotten any updates.
The medical examiner has said preliminarily that Graham suffered an aortic dissection – a tear in his artery that is life threatening in most cases. Commentators online have suggested more sinister theories. Far-right activist Laura Loomer, for example, pointed to Graham having just returned from Ukraine, where he pushed for sanctions against Russia, before his death Saturday. GOP Sen. John Cornyn called for the release of a toxicology report to “rule out any foul play.”
