McCain Likely to Miss Crucial Vote on Tax Bill

Sen. John McCain has gone home to Arizona to recover from the side effects of chemotherapy, meaning he's likely to miss a vote on the Republican tax reform plan expected this week. After days of speculation about the 81-year-old senator's health, daughter Meghan McCain tweeted Sunday that he's doing well and will be spending Christmas in Arizona, reports the Arizona Republic. McCain, who has an aggressive form of brain cancer, was hospitalized last week at the Walter Reed Medical Center in Maryland for what his office called "normal side effects of his ongoing cancer therapy." A source tells CNN that it was a "good sign" that McCain was able to board a plane to Arizona.

McCain's office released a statement thanking well-wishers and saying he looks forward to returning to Washington in January. National Cancer Institute neuro-oncology chief Mark Gilbert said the senator is continuing to improve after being treated for a viral infection. President Trump said Sunday night that McCain was likely to miss the tax vote but would return if needed, the AP reports. "They've headed back, but I understand he'll come if we ever needed his vote, which hopefully we won't," he said. "It's too bad. He's going through a very tough time, there's no question about it. But he will come back if we need his vote." Trump also confirmed that he's not planning to fire Robert Mueller, though he said he's unhappy with how the investigation is being handled, USA Today reports. (More John McCain stories.)