“I understand the focus on this issue but … “
The White House on Monday said that it has “internally” addressed staffer Kelly Sadler’s controversial remarks regarding Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), while also declining to apologize for publicly for comment.
“I understand the focus on this issue but it’s going to be dealt with and has been dealt with internally,” White House spokesman Raj Shah told reporters during Monday’s White House press briefing.
Raj also confirmed that Sadler called the McCain family last week and apologized for dismissing the Arizona senator’s rebuke of CIA Director nominee Gina Haspel by saying: “It doesn’t matter, he’s dying anyway.”
The White House spokesman was also pressed on why Sadler hasn’t publicly apologized for her comments, which McCain’s daughter Meaghan claims the aide promised her she’d do during their phone call last week.
Raj Shah says Kelly Sadler’s comment about “dying” John McCain “has been dealt with internally,” signaling there may be no public apology. pic.twitter.com/vc1wKSXUCy
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) May 14,2018
“I wasn’t on the call, I was told she made it prior to the story being published. She apologized for the comments. She apologized directly to the family,” Raj said when asked about why Sadler has remained silent on the issue.
Over the weekend, Sen. Lindsey Graham (S. C.), a long-time friend of McCain, called on the White House to apologize for Sadler’s comments.
“It doesn’t hurt you at all to do the right thing and to be big,” Graham said on “Face the Nation” Sunday, adding that the remark was “pretty disgusting” and “inappropriate.”
Shortly after news broke regarding Sadler’s comments, many of McCain’s colleagues in the Senate came to his defense.
“Our nation should be grateful for the exemplary service and sacrifice of @SenJohnMcCain, and treat this war hero and his family with the civility and respect they deserve,” Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa).
William is a Senior Congressional and Breaking News Reporter for IJR. Prior to that, he covered politics and breaking news at AOL.com, leading the sit… more
