Rob Porter, former White House Staff Secretary recently resigned after allegations of domestic abuse surfaced against him. Ex-wives Colbie Holderness and Jennifer Willoughby accused Porter of domestic violence when they were married. Donald Trump did not condemn Porter’s alleged actions but instead praised him for his exemplary service to the administration. John Kelly, White House Chief of Staff also praised Porter but retracted his statement when a picture of Jennifer’s black eye came to light. Democrats then accused Kelly and the White House of knowing about the allegations but still kept Porter in service.
The White House official statement on the matter stated that Porter’s security clearance was still ongoing by the time his accusations were published online. The statement may have painted the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) as incompetent in its mandate, therefore, forcing it to speak up.
The Exchange between the FBI and the White House
In a statement issued by the Director of National Intelligence Daniel Ray Coats, he stated that the White House background checks system is broken. He suggested that it should be completely overhauled. His assessment on the matter came during a telephone interview with the Associated Press. The interview revolved around the queries on how a top White House aide maintained access to sensitive information and the President amid such grave allegations. Coats added that the government needed to start its background check system on a clean slate with the aid of modern technology to root out those not fit to hold government positions. He also suggested that the clean slate should be a system that will work fast.
Christopher Wray the FBI Director provided new details that questioned the White House obligation to fire Porter before he resigned last week. He told Senators during a Senate Select Intelligence Committee hearing on Tuesday that his office closed Porter’s background check file in January, a month before Porter resigned. He was against the White House’s rhetoric that Porter’s background investigations were ongoing by the time the domestic abuse claims surfaced.
Later in the day on Tuesday, at around 3 pm, White House released a statement clarifying that the investigations were still ongoing when Porter resigned. Sarah Sander the White House Press Secretary stated that their assertion of Porter’s background check being incomplete was true as Porter had not received clearance from the White House office of personnel security.
Tuesday evening saw the FBI clarify its position stating that Trump’s administration received the information on Porter from them last year. On multiple occasions, it stated that Porter was implicated by allegations of domestic abuse.
Christopher Wray’s testimony is considered the latest development in what may develop into a White House scandal.
