Former White House aide who mocked McCain joins pro-Trump super PAC

Kelly Sadler, the former White House aide who exited after making insensitive comments about the late Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), has been hired as communications director for the pro-Trump super PAC America First Action.

Sadler is expected to start in her new post on Monday, marking an official return to Trump’s orbit ahead of his 2020 reelection campaign.

“I’m really excited to do everything in my power to help reelect the president of the United States, by joining the great team at America First,” Sadler wrote in an email to The Hill. “The president is solving the problems the American people elected him to do, and I can’t wait to help him win another four years in office, so he can achieve even more.”

{mosads}The White House parted ways with Sadler last summer after she dismissed McCain’s opposition to Gina Haspel’s nomination as CIA director because he was “dying anyway,” comments made in a closed-door White House meeting that were first reported by The Hill.

Sources told The Hill they believed Sadler’s comment was intended as a joke, but that it did not go over well with others at the meeting.

McCain passed away last August from brain cancer.

The White House did not publicly condemn the comments, saying it would not comment on internal staff matters. Behind the scenes, the revelation triggered a hunt for leakers inside the West Wing.

Sadler reportedly accused strategic communications director Mercedes Schlapp of being behind the leak during a meeting with President Trump, when Schlapp was also in the room. The White House considered shrinking the communications team or limiting access to meetings to address internal leaks, which staffers blamed for eroding trust and morale.

During her time in the White House, Sadler was charged with coordinating with outside surrogates on messaging and communications efforts. She held the rank of special assistant.

White House counselor Kellyanne Conway told reporters after Sadler’s exit last June that it was possible she could get another job inside the administration.

Sadler did not address her McCain comment publicly, but she called his daughter Meghan McCain afterward to apologize.

“We are very proud to have Kelly Sadler join our team as we build towards victory in 2020,” said Brian Walsh, president of America First Action. “Her commitment to President Trump is unwavering and we are lucky to have someone of her talent and experience at America First.”

Sadler’s hiring was first reported by CNN.

Other former White House officials have joined the group ahead of the 2020 race, including former White House press secretary Sean Spicer, who was tapped to serve as senior adviser. 

Linda McMahon recently stepped down as head of the Small Business Administration to join America First Action.