'He's dying anyway': White House official mocked Sen. John McCain, reports say

William Cummings | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption McCain family outraged after White House official mocks Senator A White House official mocked Sen. John McCain‘s brain cancer diagnosis just three weeks after the politician underwent surgery for an intestinal infection.

Despite battling brain cancer with a dire prognosis, Sen. John McCain is not being treated with much respect by some of his political opponents.

A White House official mocked Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and his battle with the deadly disease during a meeting Thursday, The Hill reported. And earlier a guest on Fox News Business implied that McCain betrayed U.S. secrets when he was tortured as a prisoner of war.

"It doesn't matter, he's dying anyway," press aide Kelly Sadler said about McCain's opposition to CIA nominee Gina Haspel at a meeting of White House communications staffers, according to an unnamed source cited by The Hill's Jordan Fabian.

On Wednesday, McCain urged his fellow senators to reject Haspel's nomination because he does not believe she adequately answered for her role in the CIA's torture program after the 9/11 attacks during a hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee.

During a discussion about McCain's opposition to Haspel and his opinion that torture is not effective, retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Thomas McInerney told Fox Business host Charles Payne that torture "worked on John."

"That’s why they call him ‘Songbird John,'" McInerney told Payne.

Politifact examined this attack on McCain during the 2008 presidential campaign and found "no evidence" that McCain collaborated with his North Vietnamese captors.

After McInerney's appearance John McCain's wife, Cindy McCain, told Fox Business and Charles Payne in a tweet, "Please choose your guest more wisely."

"Yes, I will and hope you accept my apology," Payne replied.

Payne also apologized in a formal statement for what he called McInerney's "false and derogatory statement" about McCain.

"Regrettably, I did not hear the comments at the time as I was receiving instructions in my ear at that moment from producers," Payne explained. "Had I heard what he said, I would have immediately pushed back. As a proud military veteran and son of a Vietnam vet, I hold all those who served in the highest esteem."

McInerney will no longer be invited to appear on any Fox Business Network or Fox News shows, Fox News spokeswoman Caley Cronin told USA TODAY.

Within hours of The Hill's report about Sadler's comment, Cindy McCain, told Sadler in a tweet, "May I remind you my husband has a family, 7 children and 5 grandchildren."

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

The Arizona Republican's daughter, Meghan McCain, intends to address Sadler's remark tomorrow on The View, The Daily Caller reported. But Thursday night, she did retweet a post from Afghanistan veteran James Hasson defending her father.

"In 5.5 years as POW, McCain lost 50 lbs., was bound and beaten as often as every 2 hours, yet still refused early release. Lifelong injuries," Hasson tweeted. "That doesn't put his political decisions above reproach, but it damn sure entitles him to respect from his countrymen as he batlles cancer."

Several news sources confirmed The Hill's reporting on Sadler's remark including Fox News, CNN and The Washington Post.

All the sources told reporters Sadler clearly intended the remark as a joke. But the "joke fell flat," CNN's Jim Acosta reported.

A WH official confirms WH aide Kelly Sadler mocked John McCain’s cancer diagnosis saying “he’s dying anyway” in response to his opposition to Haspel nomination. The “joke... fell flat” the official said. — Jim Acosta (@Acosta) May 10, 2018

The Hill said the White House did not deny the incident when asked for comment about the alleged remark but said in a statement, "We respect Senator McCain’s service to our nation and he and his family are in our prayers during this difficult time."

Sadler previously worked at the conservative Washington Times as an opinion editor.

President Trump himself has mocked McCain on several occasions. As a candidate, Trump derided McCain for being captured and, as president, he reportedly imitated McCain's injuries that the former Navy pilot sustained as a result of being shot down and tortured.