The U.S. Senator died from an aortic dissection, when the lining of the artery tears.

The South Carolina senator’s office said the 71-year-old died after a “brief and sudden illness.”

Graham's death sparks questions on cardiac arrest that is caused by an electrical malfunction in the heart that disrupts its pumping action. The heart then stops beating.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) likely died of a heart attack. The senator had a family his tory, with his father dying from a heart attack at 68.