Klobuchar Remembers Sen. Lindsey Graham As Longtime Friend, 'Loyal' Ally On Afghan Refugee Aid

ST. PAUL, MN — U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar released a statement Sunday mourning the death of Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a longtime colleague and friend who died Saturday night at 71 after what his office described as a brief and sudden illness.

Graham's death came just hours after he returned from a trip to Ukraine.

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Klobuchar's full statement:

"It was a shock this morning to find out that my friend Lindsey Graham has died. He was a man who loved his work, his country, and his family. He didn't have an easy life growing up and to me that explained a lot about him as well as his devotion to his remaining family members including his sister. It also explained his almost kid-like exuberance about his job and the responsibilities he was given (even in his sixties he would get off a plane in a foreign land with a twinkle in his eye and look at me as if to say, can you believe we are actually here and doing this?).

Lindsey was loyal to friends and causes. He was willing to work on gnarly issues and take on (at times) political risks for the right reasons. It is fitting that he died shortly after visiting Ukraine, one of those causes he would stand up for through thick and thin.

Much will be said in the coming days about his relationships with others, President Trump and John McCain for instance, but what can't be forgotten is the reason why so many people he worked with, from senators to staff, will mourn his loss: Lindsey had a zest for life and the Senate that made you want to get to work on a bill with him or at least debate him. He brought joy to his job.

Lindsey Graham was the one who was willing to work with me, when so few would, on helping the Afghan refugees. I remember standing outside of a little phone booth in the Republican cloakroom last year as he spoke with the Vice President, holding up a sign that said 'Save the Afghans' and he put the phone on hold and said 'OK OK I will go on your bill even if it gets me in trouble.' Or his early willingness to lead on big tech bills, including repealing the provision that protects them from consumer suits.

But mostly my fond memories of spending time with Lindsey, and we travelled the world with John McCain, was not about the ups and downs of his policy positions. It was about his love for the world, his loyalty to hard causes and his friends, and the pure joy he brought to life. I will miss him."

Graham served in the Senate since 2002 and chaired the Senate Budget Committee.

He was seeking a fifth term in November. Under South Carolina law, Gov. Henry McMaster will appoint a temporary replacement.