Fact Check: Did Lindsey Graham die days after chairing panel that defunded Clinton Foundation?

WASHINGTON, DC: Following the death of Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a rumor began circulating on social media platforms claiming that he died days after chairing a committee that defunded the foundation run by former President Bill Clinton and his wife, Hillary Clinton, sparking questions. Let us analyze the viral rumor and fact-check it.

Claim: Lindsey Graham died days after chairing a committee that defunded Clinton Foundation 

According to a post on X that is currently going viral, Graham died just four days after chairing a committee that investigated the Clinton Foundation's finances. 

The post further says South Carolina authorities have not ruled out foul play, that the coroner's findings have raised the possibility of homicide, and that officials are waiting for toxicology results to determine the cause of death. 

The post went on to say that Hillary and Bill have a long history of people around them dying under very suspicious circumstances, right when things get inconvenient for them.

This one hits different because it’s so fresh and so directly tied to attacking their money machine. 

The claim spread on Facebook and X, triggering theories and speculations about the Clintons’ involvement in Graham’s death, prompting a fact check.

Fact Check: False, the claim originated from a parody account

However, there are no recent reports that prove Graham chaired a committee that defunded the Clinton Foundation. 

No evidence shows that a committee was formed to probe the foundation run by the former president and first lady, leading to it being defunded.

A search on Google for the keywords ‘Lindsey Graham Clinton Foundation,’ or ‘Graham defunded Clinton Foundation’ yielded no credible reports by prominent news media outlets, which, if true, won’t go unreported.

Additionally, the claim that the coroner's findings have raised the possibility of homicide, and that officials are waiting for toxicology results are baseless.

Moreover, the claim originated from a Facebook parody account called ‘America’s Last Line Of Defense,’ which describes itself in the bio as ‘Nothing on this page is real.’

Hence, the claim was intended as satire, made for the sake of engagement.

Lindsey Graham's role in Bill Clinton's impeachment 

Graham gained national attention during his second term in the House of Representatives when he served as one of the House impeachment managers in President Clinton's impeachment trial related to the Monica Lewinsky scandal. 

During the proceedings, Graham stated that the main question was whether Clinton had committed "high crimes and misdemeanors" that harmed society. He voted to convict Clinton, but the Senate ultimately acquitted the then-president.