White House aide fired for mocking McCain

Kelly Sadler, the White House communications aide who made a comment about Republican Senator John McCain's health, was fired nearly a month after making the remark.

"Kelly Sadler is no longer employed within the Executive Office of the President," Principal Deputy Press Secretary Raj Shah said in a one-line statement on Tuesday.

The move came as the White House was under increasing pressure to take disciplinary action against Sadler, who in May made a crude comment about McCain who has been diagnosed with brain cancer, Xinhua news agency reported.

In a meeting discussing Senate votes on then-Central Intelligence Agency Director Gina Haspel, Sadler downplayed possible McCain opposition, saying "it doesn't matter, he's dying anyway".

The remark was later leaked to the press, sparking fierce criticism from both Republicans and Democrats, who called for Sadler to be fired immediately.

Shah later defended Sadler in a press briefing, saying that everyone should be able to speak their minds at work, adding that the press office had "addressed the issue internally" without elaborating.

The White House did little to quell the anger against Sadler, especially after McCain's daughter accused Sadler of going back on a promise to apologise in public for the comment.

Sadler called up McCain's family to make a private apology, according to the White House, but has remained silent publicly.

--IANS

and/bg