Report: Sarah Sanders ‘scolded’ staff over leaked McCain comments

In the wake of a firestorm over a White House communications aide’s alleged remarks about Senator John McCain’s health, press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders refused to comment on the matter at Friday’s briefing with reporters.

However, according to White House officials, privately, she “scolded” her staff over the controversy.

“Sanders called the comment ‘unacceptable,’ but was said to be more upset about the leak than the off-handed comment from White House staffer Kelly Sadler that McCain’s opposition to their CIA director nominee Gina Haspel ’doesn’t matter, because he’s dying anyway,’” reports ABC News.

Axios’ Jonathan Swan detailed a similar account, noting that a source told him, “[Sanders] made a point of immediately saying Sadler’s comment was wrong but her point was that these issues should be litigated internally and airing grievances through the press inflicts immense damage on the White House.”

The White House has faced widespread criticism over Sadler’s remarks.

“People have wondered when decency would hit rock bottom with this administration,” former Vice President Joe Biden said in a statement on Friday. “It happened yesterday.”

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