'Worst of all I lost!': John McCain admits to playing poker on his iPhone at US Syria debate

Washington Post photographer Melina Mara caught Mr McCain in the act with an over-the-shoulder picture showing the 77-year-old gambling with fake money on his phone (Melina Mara/ The Washington Post)

Senior US Republican Senator John McCain has admitted today on Twitter to playing poker on his iPhone during a key meeting on possible military intervention in Syria.

The former presidential candidate seemed to imply the length of the hearing was the cause of his distraction after a photograph was circulated on social media.

“Scandal! Caught playing iPhone game at 3+ hour Senate hearing – worst of all I lost!” He tweeted.

“Occasionally I get a little bored,” he admitted on air to CNN afterwards.

Washington Post photographer Melina Mara caught Mr McCain in the act with an over-the-shoulder picture showing the 77-year-old betting with fake money on his phone. Meanwhile Secretary of State John Kerry testified to the Senate concerning the use of force in Syria.

US politicians are weighing up whether or not to formally authorise the use of US force in Syria in response to alleged chemical attacks on civilians by President Bashar al-Assad.