WASHINGTON (AP) - The Latest on Sen. John McCain as he recovers from surgery (all times local):
6:15 p.m.
Sen. John McCain’s best pal in the Senate says he’s “sounding strong” after surgery to remove a blood clot above his eye.
Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina tells reporters that he has spoken to McCain, who is recuperating at his home in Arizona.
Graham says “it looks like everything is going to be A-OK.” He says McCain needs to wait a week before returning to Washington because doctors won’t allow him to board an airplane.
Graham says McCain “wants to come back so bad he can’t stand it,” and adds, “I think he would walk back if they would let him.”
Graham says he hopes McCain returns in a week for the sake of his family as he will drive them crazy.
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5:30 p.m.
The Republican National Committee is condemning a member who shared a social media post encouraging Arizona Sen. John McCain to “just die already.”
The message came Monday from Republican national committeewoman Diana Orrock of Nevada. Orrock tweeted, “Amen,” in response to another Twitter user who had written, “Please Just (expletive) Die Already” above the hashtag “JohnMcCain”.
McCain, 80, is recuperating from surgery to remove a blood clot.
Republican National Committee spokesman Ryan Mahoney called Orrock’s tweet “extremely inappropriate.” He called McCain a war hero who made countless sacrifices on behalf of all Americans.
Mahoney wished the GOP’s 2008 presidential nominee a “speedy recovery.”
Orrock deleted the tweet after it attracted media coverage. She did not respond to a voicemail or a text message seeking comment.
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4 p.m.
President Donald Trump says he hopes Arizona Sen. John McCain gets better soon and calls him a “crusty voice in Washington.”
Trump adds, “Plus, we need his vote.”
McCain’s office says the 80-year-old Arizona senator underwent surgery Friday to remove a blood clot. He is recuperating at home.
Trump brought up McCain while calling for the repeal of the national health care law during a trade event at the White House.
McCain’s absence has led Senate leaders to postpone action on the health care measure. It needs almost every Republican vote to pass.
Trump says: “We hope John McCain gets better very soon. We miss him.”
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3:25 p.m.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says he has spoken to ailing Sen. John McCain and wishes him a speedy recovery.
McCain’s office says the 80-year-old Arizona senator underwent surgery Friday to remove a blood clot. McCain is at home and recuperating.
McConnell says he spoke to McCain on Monday morning, and he calls the Arizona Republican a “tough guy.”
McConnell says he hopes McCain will be back in the Senate soon. McCain’s office says he’ll remain in Arizona this week.
Over the weekend the Republican leader delayed a vote on the GOP health care bill. McCain’s absence has left Republicans short of the votes necessary to move ahead on the legislation to erase much of Barack Obama’s health care law.
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12:15 p.m.
The Senate panel that John McCain leads will press ahead with its business this week as the Arizona Republican continues to recuperate from surgery to remove a blood clot.
The Armed Services Committee says Republican Senator James Inhofe will act as chairman during McCain’s absence. Inhofe, who is from Oklahoma, is a longtime member of the panel and runs the subcommittee on military readiness and management support.
The committee meets Tuesday to consider the nomination of Air Force Gen. Paul Selva to serve a second term as vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The committee also is scheduled to consider the nominations of four civilians for Defense Department posts. Among them is Ellen Lord, who was selected by President Donald Trump to be the Pentagon’s top acquisition official.
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