Sarah Huckabee Sanders Berated Staffers Over McCain Leak

The White House could have fired the aide who said that the opinion of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is meaningless because hes dying anyway. Instead, press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders reportedly dressed down the White House communications team for leaking the remark to the press.

Then at least five White House staffers promptly leaked Sanders scolding to the media.

That likely came as no surprise to Sanders: I am sure this conversation is going to leak, too. And thats just disgusting, a furious Sanders said, according to one of five people at the meeting who spoke with Axios . White House officials also leaked details of the meeting to ABC News .

The mess started Thursday at a communications team meeting when aide Kelly Sadler reportedly mocked McCain, who has brain cancer. Referring to McCains opposition to the nomination of Gina Haspel as CIA chief, Sadler reportedly said, It doesnt matter. Hes dying anyway .

The comment was first reported by The Hill .

McCains wife, Cindy , and daughter Meghan both attacked the comment, with Meghan McCain calling for Sadlers firing .

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White House sources reportedly dismissed Sadlers comment as a joke, and there has been no public mention of firing her. At Sanders briefing Friday, the press secretary refused to confirm or deny a leak ... out of an internal meeting.

A WH official confirms WH aide Kelly Sadler mocked John McCains cancer diagnosis saying hes dying anyway in response to his opposition to Haspel nomination. The joke... fell flat the official said.

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

The far bigger issue to Sanders appeared to be the leak. At Fridays closed-door meeting, Sanders called Sadlers comment unacceptable, according to ABC News, citing multiple sources. But the press secretary also said the comment didnt justify the selfish leak, Axios reported.