White House says aide’s remark about McCain being handled ‘internally’

by Jordan Fabian - 05/14/18 2:38 PM ET

The White House on Monday again refused to apologize for staffer Kelly Sadler’s derisive comment about Sen. John McCain, saying the matter is “being addressed internally.”

White House spokesman Raj Shah confirmed that Sadler called McCain’s daughter, Meghan, to apologize for her remarks but indicated a public apology will not be forthcoming.

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“I understand the focus on this issue, but it is going to be dealt with and has been dealt with internally,” Shah told reporters.

The Hill first reported last week that Sadler dismissed McCain’s opposition to President Trump’s CIA director nominee by saying “it doesn’t matter, he’s dying anyway.”

The comments created a multiday firestorm, which the White House is struggling to dig out of in part because it has refused to offer a public apology — as members of McCain’s family and lawmakers in both parties have requested.

Shah condemned the leak of the remark, but declined to discuss his thoughts on the comments themselves.

“If you aren’t able, in internal meetings, to speak your mind or convey thoughts or say anything that you feel without feeling like your colleagues will betray you, that creates a very difficult work environment,” he said.

The spokesman said the matter “is not about my opinion or anybody else’s opinion.”

Shah was leading the meeting when Sadler made the remark.

Tags Donald Trump Donald Trump John McCain