John McCain calls protesters at hearing ‘low-life scum’

Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, didn’t take too kindly to some demonstrators interrupting an Armed Services Committee hearing on Thursday while former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger was seated in front of the committee.

A number of CodePink members approached Kissinger, holding up signs and chanting “Arrest Henry Kissinger for war crimes.”

Kissinger was President Richard Nixon’s secretary of state during the Vietnam War.

After CodePink was escorted out, McCain spoke up.

“I’ve been a member of this committee for many years, and I have never seen anything as disgraceful and outrageous and despicable as the last demonstration that just took place,” McCain said.

He then was interrupted by one lingering protester.

“You know, you’re going to have to shut up, or I’m going to have you arrested,” he said. “… Get out of here, you low-life scum.”

The hearing was the third in a series in which McCain has called luminaries from the foreign policy world to share their experiences with lawmakers on the panel.

CONTRIBUTING: ASSOCIATED PRESS