A White House official ridiculed Sen. John McCain during an internal meeting on Thursday, after the Republican senator pleaded with his colleagues to reject Gina Haspel’s nomination for CIA director.
“It doesn’t matter, he’s dying anyway,” Kelly Sadler, special assistant to the president, said, according to the Hill.
McCain is currently in his home state of Arizona, where he has been recovering from treatment for an aggressive form of brain cancer.
The remarks were reportedly made during a private White House meeting on Thursday that consisted of nearly two-dozen communications staffers.
The White House did not deny that Sadler made the comments, according to the publication.
“We respect Senator McCain’s service to our nation and he and his family are in our prayers during this difficult time,” the White House said in a statement to the Hill.
Cindy McCain, the wife of Sen. McCain, shot a terse tweet in Sadler’s direction Thursday evening. “May I remind you my husband has a family, 7 children and 5 grandchildren,” she said, tagging Sadler.
@kellysadler45 May I remind you my husband has a family, 7 children and 5 grandchildren.
— Cindy McCain (@cindymccain) May 10, 2018
Sadler also called Meghan McCain, the senator’s daughter, and that discussion “didn’t go so well,” according to Politico’s Annie Karni.
The meeting was put on by deputy press secretary Raj Shah and White House counselor Kellyanne Conway arrived at the meeting after the remarks were made. White House press secretary Sarah Sanders did not attend.
A source familiar with the matter told the Hill, the room expressed “discomfort” following the remark, which was never addressed.
McCain, who was tortured as prisoner of war for nearly six years, urged his fellow senators to oppose Haspel’s nomination this week, citing her refusal to acknowledge the wrongdoing of the agency for their past use of enhanced interrogation techniques.
“I believe Gina Haspel is a patriot who loves our country and has devoted her professional life to its service and defense,” the Arizona Republican said in a statement Wednesday.
“However, Ms. Haspel’s role in overseeing the use of torture by Americans is disturbing. Her refusal to acknowledge torture’s immorality is disqualifying. I believe the Senate should exercise its duty of advice and consent and reject this nomination,” he added.
