Washington (CNN) Sen. John McCain says the Code Pink protesters he called "low-life scum" at a hearing last week deserved it.

The Arizona Republican made the remark after protesters rushed a Senate Armed Services Committee witness table where 91-year-old Henry Kissinger, the secretary of state under President Richard Nixon, was testifying. McCain, the committee's chairman, ordered them escorted from the room by Capitol police.

JUST WATCHED McCain calls Kissinger protester 'low life scum' Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH McCain calls Kissinger protester 'low life scum' 02:17

He said the protesters -- one of whom held handcuffs above Kissinger's head -- put him "in danger of being harmed."

"These people were physically threatening Henry Kissinger," McCain told CNN's Dana Bash Sunday on "State of the Union" as he defended his comments.

Read More