Former US Senator Joe Lieberman Dies At 82

Former US Senator and vice presidential nominee Joe Lieberman has died at 82 following complications from a fall.

“Senator Lieberman's love of God, his family, and America endured throughout his life of service in the public interest,” the statement on Wednesday from his family said.

He also served as the chairman of the United Against Nuclear Iran, an advocacy group founded in 2008 to prevent the Iranian regime from turning into a nuclear power.

This veteran Jewish politician was a staunch supporter of Israel and strongly opposed negotiations with the Iranian government.

In the Democratic presidential campaign in 2000, Lieberman was Al Gore's running mate, hence becoming “the first Jewish candidate on a major political party ticket,” CBS News wrote.

“It was an honor to stand side-by-side with him on the campaign trail … I'll remain forever grateful for his tireless efforts to build a better future for America," said Gore in a statement.

Although Lieberman was a Democrat, he voted against the party on a number of important issues, including his support for the Iraq war.

During the 2008 presidential campaign, Lieberman backed Republican John McCain over Barack Obama, in contrast to the Democratic Party’s position.

In 2006, Lieberman ran for the Senate for the last time as an independent, non-Partisan candidate and won. In total, he represented the state of Connecticut in the Senate from 1989 to 2013.

Challenging the Pentagon’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, Lieberman notably supported queer people and their service in the US army without having to conceal their sexual orientations.