Rep. Adam Kinzinger Adam Daniel KinzingerFox News reporter defends confirming Atlantic piece despite Trump backlash: 'I feel very confident' GOP lawmaker defends Fox reporter after Trump calls for her firing Lindsey Graham: 'QAnon is bats--- crazy' MORE (R-Ill.) ripped President Trump Donald John TrumpOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Pelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Trump mocks Biden appearance, mask use ahead of first debate MORE’s White House aide for her “moral failing" on Friday after she reportedly made an off-color comment about Sen. John McCain John Sidney McCainCindy McCain endorses Biden: He's only candidate 'who stands up for our values' Biden says Cindy McCain will endorse him Biden's six best bets in 2016 Trump states MORE’s (R-Ariz.) health.

“My friend @SenJohnMcCain is a hero, a fighter, and a good man,” Kinzinger tweeted Friday. “He has a wife and a family, and he lives his life with honor. What was said yesterday goes beyond the pale; it’s a moral failing and unacceptable. Thinking of John & his family today.”

My friend @SenJohnMcCain is a hero, a fighter, and a good man. He has a wife and family, and he lives his life with honor. What was said yesterday goes beyond the pale; it’s a moral failing and unacceptable. Thinking of John & his family today. pic.twitter.com/0vrRRVePrk — Adam Kinzinger (@RepKinzinger) May 11, 2018

Kinzinger was referring to The Hill reporting on Thursday that special assistant Kelly Sadler brushed off McCain’s opposition to Trump’s CIA director nominee, Gina Haspel, by saying that “It doesn’t matter, he’s dying anyway.”

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McCain, 81, is currently battling an aggressive form of brain cancer.

Sources familiar with the matter told The Hill that Sadler made the derisive comments during a closed-door meeting with White House communications staffers on Thursday morning. The sources said they believed Sadler's comments were intended as a joke.

Press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders refused to address the issue during a Friday press briefing with reporters.

“I'm not going to validate a leak, one way or another, out of an internal staff meeting," Sanders said.

The comments set off a firestorm from politicians on both sides of the aisle and members of the media.

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McCain’s wife, Cindy, responded by reminding Sadler of the senator's family.

@kellysadler45 May I remind you my husband has a family, 7 children and 5 grandchildren. — Cindy McCain (@cindymccain) May 10, 2018

His daughter, Meghan McCain, suggested that Sadler should be fired during Friday’s episode of “The View.”