U.S. Sen. John McCain is getting stronger after being hospitalized two weeks ago for surgery for a stomach infection, his longtime friend and fellow U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham told CNN on Thursday.
Graham admitted he was worried before about McCain, who has been fighting aggressive brain cancer, immediately after surgery.
"Last time I saw him, he'd just gotten out of surgery and was really worried about him," Graham told CNN. "He went through some pretty tough surgery in his weakened condition."
Graham said when he saw McCain again Monday, the senator had bounced back.
"When I got there, [he had] gained weight, [he was] eating good. We watched our favorite western, 'The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence,'" Graham said.
"It's a tough diagnosis, not going to sugar coat this, but the guy came through the surgery and he's getting stronger," Graham told CNN. "We talked about what we could do this summer. Maybe doing some events, if he gets a little stronger, at the McCain Institute. We were talking about the future. We're not at 2022 yet, but who knows."
According to a statement from McCain's office last month, the Arizona Vietnam veteran had surgery to treat an intestinal infection related to diverticulitis.
"Over the last few months, Senator McCain has been participating in physical therapy at his home in Cornville, Arizona, as he recovers from the side effects of cancer treatment," the statement said. "He has remained engaged on his work as chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and has enjoyed frequent visits from his family, friends, staff and Senate colleagues."
McCain recently voiced his disapproval over President Donald Trump's choice for CIA director Gina Haspel because of her CIA experience during the Bush administration, when "enhanced Interrogation," or torture, was deemed legal for terror suspects, CNN wrote.
Graham said he told McCain that he disagreed with him.
"Let just put it this way. Here's what I told John: You won. She said, Ms. Haspel, that the prior program hurt the CIA and the country. She wouldn't want to go back to it, that torture doesn't work and she is going to adhere to the law that Senator McCain and I helped author. She's a 30-year professional, and I think she's done a good job," Graham said, per CNN.
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