Why Men Remain In High Power Positions Despite Claims Of Abuse

The tweet may also have referred to David Sorensen, a speechwriter for the Council on Environmental Quality who resigned on Friday night after his ex-wife, Jessica Corbett, told The Washington Post how he had allegedly abused her.

On Thursday, Raj Shah, the White House principal deputy press secretary, to comment on whether Kelly was previously aware of the allegations, saying that he would not go into the “specifics” of who knew what and when.

A White House official told NPR’s Tamara Keith that Sorensen’s position did not require a security clearance, but that his background check was ongoing.

Sorensen’s ex-wife reportedly accused him of being violent and emotionally abusive, which he vehemently denied.

Staff secretary Rob Porter, one of the President Donald Trump’s closest aides, resigned Wednesday after the publication of allegations that he’d abused his two ex-wives. The Washington Post reported Friday that some White House aides believed that Kelly suggested they tell an untrue version of the events. (Porter has been working with a temporary security clearance because the allegations surfaced in an F.B.I. background interview.) According to a source, Kelly at first pushed back when White House officials wanted him to issue a second statement walking back his initial strong defense of Kelly.

The departure of Mr Porter has roiled Mr Trump’s already chaotic White House.

When the media first reported on Porter’s misdeeds, Chief of Staff John Kelly gave Porter a glowing review. Trump has denied all of these accusations and cast all of his accusers as liars.

Kelly’s claim that the allegations against Porter are “true” directly contrast with those of his boss, the president, who pointed out Friday that Porter claims he is innocent.

The president’s praise for Porter’s job performance drew a rebuke from former Vice President Joe Biden. “And so as you look at the reports that have come out, they are very troubling”. New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman said he was sitting in the residence “watching coverage of the last five days re Porter”. Both ex-wives say they shared this information with the Federal Bureau of Investigation a year ago, and the Daily Mail is reporting that Mr.

Sorensen also provided photos to WaPo of what he said were injuries, such as bruises and scrapes, Corbett inflicted on him.

Asked what caused the White House to change its tone on Porter, Shah replied the images of one of Porters ex-wives black eye were “upsetting”. Wallace questioned the women in the White House after not resigning after abuse allegations of a White House aide.

The president’s remarks came on a morning when Porter’s second wife appeared on NBC’s “Today Show”, detailing physical abuse, and saying she gave a full accounting months ago to Federal Bureau of Investigation agents.