Questions that need answers after accused wife beater Rob Porter's White House resignation
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A top White House aide is stepping down following allegations of domestic abuse by his two ex-wives. The White House press secretary read part of staff secretary Rob Porter’s statement, in which he claims the allegations are “simply false.” (Feb. 7)
AP
Following White House Staff Secretary Rob Porter’s resignation Wednesday, questions loom about his ex-wives’Â allegations of physical and mental abuse and his political career.Â
Here are questions that remain unanswered:
Did domestic abuse come up in the FBI background check?
In order to work for the administration, he had to undergo an FBI background check. White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders declined to comment on whether the allegations affected Porter’s security clearance.
“Consistent with the practice of past administrations, issues related to an individual’s suitability are reviewed through a thorough and lengthy background check process,” she said. “Background checks involve a complex investigation run by intelligence and law enforcement agencies.”
Did this affect his security clearance?
According to reports, the allegations had delayed Porter receiving a full security clearance. That means he wouldn’t have access to certain classified national security information.
Wouldn’t this affect his job?
As staff secretary, Porter is responsible for the flow of presidential paperwork around the West Wing and to the president’s desk. He would have ensured executive orders, decision memos, bills, nominations and other actions were thoroughly vetted before reaching the president.
In this role, Porter is essentially a gatekeeper for the Oval Office with direct access to Trump. He traveled with the president and was among the highest-paid aides in the White House. After John Kelly became chief of staff last summer, Kelly reportedly came to view Porter as a right-hand man.
So, yes, it’s hard to imagine Porter being able to do this job without a clearance. CBS reported that it was possible that Porter was conducting his job with a temporary clearance.
Who knew about the allegations?
White House officials have known about the allegations for at least a few months, according to reports. His first wife, Colbie Holderness, reportedly told the FBI about her their marriage and shared photos of injuries she received while married to Porter.
And last year, one of Porter’s wives, Jennifer Willoughby, wrote about her abusive marriage. She never mentions Porter by name.
“When I tried to get help, I was counseled to consider carefully how what I said might affect his career,” she wrote. “And so I kept my mouth shut and stayed.”
Still, Porter has served as the staff secretary since Trump’s first day in office, and, again, he would have needed to undergo a background check to join the administration, and his inability to get a full clearance likely would have been flagged early on.
On Wednesday, Kelly initially defended Porter, saying he was a “man of true integrity and honor.â€Â
Later, he said he was “shocked†by the allegations against Porter, but stood by his previous comments.
“There is no place for domestic violence in our society,†he said. “I stand by my previous comments of the Rob Porter that I have come to know since becoming chief of staff, and believe every individual deserves the right to defend their reputation.â€
More: Rob Porter scandal, explained: Who is he, why he resigned, what his ex-wives say, more
More: White House staffer Rob Porter resigns amid abuse allegations