A July 12 WorldNetDaily article by Joe Kovacs on the death of Sen. Lindsey Graham started out fairly sane:
Legendary U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a key ally of President Donald Trump who recently was known for his strong stance against a nuclear-armed Iran and supporter of Ukraine in its war with Russia, died Saturday from a “brief and sudden illness” at the age of 71.
A statement from his office indicated: “On the evening of Saturday, July 11, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham passed away from a brief and sudden illness. Senator Graham’s family appreciates prayers at this time and asks for privacy during this incredibly difficult period.”
But Kovacs quickly descended into conspiracy-mongering:
Journalist Nick Sorter pointed out: “Coincidentally, a similar 911 call related to a cardiac arrest at Mitch McConnell’s DC home was made just weeks ago as well. He has not been seen in public since.”
Matt Van Swol, a former nuclear scientist for the U.S. Department of Energy expressed total bewilderment at Graham’s death, saying: “I’m sorry, but Lindsey Graham dying out of the blue like this doesn’t make any sense at all.
“We have him on camera yesterday looking perfectly healthy. None of this is making any sense.”
On July 6, as Iran was holding a funeral for its Ayatollah Khamenei killed by the U.S. in recent military action, signs were held by protesters with pictures of Graham, Trump and other hawkish Americans including Ben Shapiro and Laura Loomer with targets on their faces and a message reading: “Sooner or later, your heads will roll.”
Kovacs followed up later that day:
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is now making “every necessary resource available” to local authorities in connection with the shocking death of U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who died unexpectedly Saturday night at age 71 after returning from Ukraine.
FBI Director Kash Patel said Sunday on X: “The FBI is assisting local authorities and has made every necessary resource available.”
[…]“I think we’re all in shock,” Mike Emanuel of Fox News said Sunday afternoon.
TMZ posted exclusive photos of emergency responders in Washington, D.C., carting Graham on a stretcher into an ambulance.
[…]Investigative journalist Laura Loomer, an aide to President Donald Trump, is among those asking serious questions about the possibility Graham was poisoned, as he had been targeted by Iran for assassination, along with Trump and herself.
Loomer said: “The IRGC publicly called for Senator Lindsey Graham to be assassinated. He was traveling abroad to a war zone the last few days to try to end the war between Ukraine and Russia.
“He’s been home for less than one day, and tonight, his staff said he passed away from a ‘brief and sudden illness.’ Was he poisoned by a foreign adversary either abroad or upon returning to the US?
“There should be an investigation into his death. Especially after Iran called for his death less than one week ago. What do his staff mean by a ‘brief and sudden illness’? Poison?”
Upon learning the FBI is now involved, Loomer stressed: “It’s imperative that the FBI conducts their own toxicology report on Senator Graham. The DC crime lab is incompetent.”
[…]Loomer continued: “Not too long ago, Tucker Carlson interviewed Putin Advisor Alexander Dugin @AGDugin who called for Senator Lindsey Graham to be assassinated. Dugin has since deleted the tweet.
“Just a few months ago, Tucker Carlson had blood splatter imagery of Lindsey Graham on his podcast to vilify him with the title, ‘they’re hijacking MAGA.’
“Oddly enough, around the same time this podcast aired, Dugin said the same thing about Graham while Russian state media called for the pro-Ukraine Senator to be assassinated.
“Last week, Iran and Russia called for Graham’s assassination. One day after returning from Ukraine, he is now dead. Poison can cause someone to go into cardiac arrest. Was Lindsey Graham assassinated by Russia or Iran?”
“I hope people in MAGA open their eyes to see just how evil the Russian government really is. Something is terribly wrong and I suspect Lindsey Graham was murdered. None of this makes sense.”
When Graham’s cause of death was revealed, Kovacs wasn’t having it:
The medical examiner for the District of Columbia released on Sunday preliminary findings concerning Saturday’s “sudden” death of U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.
Graham’s Communications Director Taylor Reidy posted on X: “The preliminary examination findings were: Aortic Dissection due to Arteriosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease.
“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.”
[…]As WorldNetDaily reported earlier Sunday, the FBI is now making “every necessary resource available” to local authorities in connection with the shocking death of Graham, R-S.C., who died unexpectedly Saturday night at age 71 after returning from Ukraine.
When President Trump recommended Graham’s sister to fill his seat, Kovacs seems to have stopped his conspiracy-mongering, referencing Graham’s death only as “sudden.”