A leading feminist organization is demanding White House Chief of Staff John Kelly’s head over his ‘pathetic’ defense of Rob Porter, the senior Trump staffer who resigned after he was accused of domestic abuse by both of his ex-wives.
The National Organization of Women called Kelly an ‘enabler of sexual absusers’ in a Thursday morning statement and said he must resign alongside Porter.
Kelly described Porter as a ‘man of true integrity and honor’ after he was informed that on-the-record spousal abuse allegations from the senior official’s second wife would be appearing in a story on DailyMail.com.
In a phone call, NOW President Toni Van Pelt said, ‘It’s not honorable to beat up women. There is no integrity involved in being violent when you go home. These are not American values.’
A leading women’s organization is demanding White House Chief of Staff John Kelly’s head over his ‘pathetic’ defense of Rob Porter, the senior Trump staffer who resigned after he was accused of domestic abuse by both of his ex-wives
Senior White House aides – possibly even chief of staff John Kelly – were made aware of spousal abuse allegations against Porter in November after the FBI learned about them during a background check – but Porter remained in his sensitive post.
The FBI learned about the allegations after conducting a background check on Porter, the White House staff secretary who resigned Wednesday. It concluded that he could be subjected to blackmail due to what was uncovered, a source tells DailyMail.com.
Now, following a second report on the abuse allegations against the Trump aide, Kelly is coming under fire for his efforts to shield Porter– at a time when the #MeToo movement is rocking Hollywood and the national culture.
‘I think its clear, starting at the very top in our country, that they see women as collateral damage that they see women as objects,’ Van Pelt said. ‘They are actually giving permission to abusers. They are giving permission to men to disrespect women and to treat them with disregard.’
As staff secretary, Porter has had access to every piece of classified information that goes through the White House. He was a key ally of Kelly is his effort to vet information that reaches the president and impose discipline on the flow.
Two Porter ex-wives have said they spoke to the FBI during its standard background check on Porter, who was seeking a government security clearance for his high level position.
The allegations delayed Porter’s ability to get permanent security clearance. He was granted interim clearance when he joined the White House in January 2017. Temporary clearances are common in the first 4-6 months of an administration, and in the first 3 months of a new senior level hire.
But his extended for 13 months.
White House chief of staff John Kelly (left) says he was ‘shocked’ by domestic violence allegations leveled against Rob Porter (right) as it is claimed staffers knew about it for months
Nevertheless, he remained in his role, where he acts as a key gatekeeper for information that gets to President Trump’s desk.
Kelly joined the White House staff in July. He would not have been part of the team that vetted Porter during the transition.
Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie was leading those operations until he was booted just after the election and replaced at the top of the president’s transition team by Vice President Mike Pence.
As DailyMail.com first revealed earlier, Porter is dating White House Communications Director Hope Hicks.
In another unusual twist, Hicks participated in crafting Kelly’s defiant statement on the matter Tuesday. Kelly was on Capitol Hill for immigration negotiations when staff learned about the DailyMail’s exclusive on Porter.
It was not immediately clear if Porter was able to operate under a temporary clearance pending approval, or if he had access to less than the full array of information that would normally be required of his high-level post.
‘To have someone in that job who can be so easily blackmailed is crazy,’ Democratic Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, who served as staff secretary for Bill Clinton, told DailyMail.com.
‘Every day there’s a stack of red folders on this guy’s desk that have the most secret info the government possesses and he has been walking it into the president,’ he said. He noted that the staff secretary only has two ‘direct reports’: the chief of staff and the president.
White House Chief of Staff John Kelly and Staff Secretary Rob Porter follow President Donald Trump as he walks to board Marine One to head to Missouri to push the Republican tax plan, on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017
Porter is dating White House Communications Director Hope Hicks. She, like Porter, accompanied President Trump to an economic conference in Davos, Switzerland. She also assisted in crafting statements responding to the allegations against Porter
‘To have someone in that job for 14 months with no national security clearance, is outrageous. And John Kelly owns that and has some very tough questions to answer, not just about why he’s still defending him, which is outrageous, but about why you would allow someone to be in this position who can be so easily blackmailed. It’s crazy.’
Maloney is calling for a House Oversight Committee investigation into what happened and singled out Kelly’s role.
Even after leaning that DailyMail.com had on-the-record accusations from his ex wife, Kelly stood firm and issued a defiant statement for Kelly defending Porter.
‘Rob Porter is a man of true integrity and honor, and I can’t say enough good things about him. He is a friend, a confidante and a trusted professional,” Kelly said. ‘I am proud to serve alongside him.’
President Trump was not aware of the allegations against Porter, according to a source
It was not until a second statement Wednesday night and Porter’s resignation that Kelly said, ‘I was shocked by the new allegations released today against Rob Porter’ and that ‘there is no place for domestic violence in our society.’
After DailyMail.com contacted the White House Tuesday, Porter’s former boss, Utah Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch, also vigorously defended him.
It was only after DailyMail.com published additional allegations, and a photo of first wife Colbie Holderness with a black eye she says Porter gave her when he punched her during their marriage, the White House issued a new round of statements and announced Porter would resign.
Now Porter could be out of the White House as soon as today or tomorrow.
The blackmail issue is one that is frequently cited when there is undisclosed information about a powerful government official that could be used against them.
For example, former acting deputy attorney general Sally Yates warned last year that former national security advisor Mike Flynn could be subject to blackmail since he lied to the FBI about his Russia contacts. The Russians, presumably, would have known this information and could have used it against him.
Likewise, if a foreign power got hold of damaging information about Porter, some of which was contained in public records, it could have attempted to use it against him.
Other outlets also reported the information had made its way to the White House. Aides knew about allegations against Porter since last year, the Washington Post reported.
ABC News reported that ‘high level’ officials knew about the domestic violence accusations. Officials also knew in advance about a 2010 protective order that tthe DailyMail published in the original story,Politico reported.
CBS also reported the FBI told White House officials about the abuse allegations in November.
The allegations delayed Porter’s security clearance. Both of his ex-wives said they spoke to the FBI about the abuse they say he committed. Nevertheless, he remained in his role, where he acts as a key gatekeeper for information that gets to President Trump’s desk.
Axios reported after the initial story that Kelly wanted Porter to ‘stay and fight.’
Kelly considers Porter, a Harvard-trained former Rhodes scholar a key advisor, and Kelly has said one of his own chief reforms was better organizing the White House to filter the information that gets to Trump.
Porter, described as one of the most important players in Trump’s circle, resigned from his role as White House staff secretary on Wednesday following claims of domestic abuse
A former White House official told Vanity Fair, ‘It’s beyond disbelief. Everyone is trying to figure out why Kelly is leading the charge to save him.’
CNN reported that White House communications director Hope Hicks, who DailyMail.com has revealed is dating Porter, participated in drafting statements in response to the allegations.
Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch, Porter’s former employer, issued a statement Tuesday scolding the ‘vile attack’ on Porter.
Hatch called it ‘incredibly discouraging to see such a vile attack on such a decent man. Shame on any publication that would print this — and shame on the politically motivated, morally bankrupt character assassins that would attempt to sully a man’s good name.’
After DailyMail.com’s second story, both Kelly and Hatch issued new statements. Kelly said he was ‘shocked’ by the new allegations, and Hatch – less than 15 hours after his initial statement – said he was ‘heartbroken by today’s allegations.’
Despite the White House’s knowledge of the looming issue, Porter traveled with the president to an an economic conference in Davos, where he played a key role in drafting Trump’s speech. Hicks also attended.
Kelly says he was ‘shocked’ by new domestic violence allegations leveled against Rob Porter as it is claimedTrump staffers had known about the accusations for months.
Porter resigned from his role as White House staff secretary on Wednesday after his first ex-wife Colbie Holderness told DailyMail.com that he choked and punched her during their marriage.
White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Wednesday Porter was resigning but could be in his job for weeks during a transition period
His second wife Jennifer Willoughby revealed on Tuesday that he had once dragged her wet and naked out of the shower and was verbally abusive, calling her a f***ing b***h’ on their honeymoon.
Kelly had earlier fiercely backed Porter calling him a man of ‘integrity and honor’ but issued a statement late Wednesday expressing his shock.
‘I was shocked by the new allegations released today against Rob Porter. There is no place for domestic violence in our society,’ Kelly 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.
‘I accepted his resignation earlier today, and will ensure a swift and orderly transition.’
Kelly had earlier described him as a man of ‘true integrity and honor’, adding that he couldn’t say enough good things about him.
‘He is a friend, a confidante and a trusted professional. I am proud to serve alongside him,’ he said.
The allegations made by Porter’s two ex-wives had reportedly been known among senior aides to President Trump since at least November, multiple sources told CNN and CBS.
Colbie Holderness, Porter’s first wife, (left) claims he repeatedly punched and choked her. His second wife Jennifer Willoughby has also claimed that Porter was abusive in their marriage
Sources said Trump and his daughter Ivanka both learned of the allegations this week and were said to be upset and deeply disturbed.
Porter’s former boss, Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch, also made a stunning U-turn after just 24 hours. He was Hatch’s chief of staff from March 2014 until he came to the White House on Inauguration Day.
After the first allegation surfaced, Hatch said in a statement that it was ‘incredibly discouraging to see such a vile attack on such a decent man. Shame on any publication that would print this – and shame on the politically motivated, morally bankrupt character assassins that would attempt to sully a man’s good name.’
‘I know Rob. I’ve known him for years, both as a close friend and as a personal advisor,’ Hatch continued at the time. ‘He is kind and considerate towards all.’
‘The country needs more honest, principled people like Rob Porter, which is why I hope that this cynical campaign to discredit his character ultimately fails.’
But when Porter’s other ex-wife came forward detailing abuse, Hatch backpedaled and said he didn’t know what Porter may have done in the years before he knew him.
‘I am heartbroken by today’s allegations,’ Hatch said.
‘In every interaction I’ve had with Rob, he has been courteous, professional, and respectful. My staff loved him and he was a trusted advisor. I do not know the details of Rob’s personal life. Domestic violence in any form is abhorrent and unacceptable. I am praying for Rob and those involved.’
The two sets of revelations have stunned the White House and led to a dramatic exit for Porter.
Porter is dating White House Communications Director Hope Hicks, 29. The two were seen leaving her D.C. apartment 10 days ago
Porter, who is dating White House communications director Hope Hicks, denied the claims made by the two women but still resigned.
‘These outrageous allegations are simply false. I took the photos given to the media nearly 15 years ago and the reality behind them is nowhere close to what is being described,’ Porter said in a statement Wednesday.
‘I have been transparent and truthful about these vile claims, but I will not further engage publicly with a coordinated smear campaign.
‘My commitment to public service speaks for itself. I have always put duty to country first and treated others with respect. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to have served in the Trump Administration and will seek to ensure a smooth transition when I leave the White House.’
Porter’s first wife, Holderness, 37, who is a senior analyst for the U.S. government, spoke on the record to DailyMail.com about their five-year marriage, detailing physical and mental abuse.
She said he broke down her confidence so badly with his verbal and emotional abuse that she took an extended leave of absence from grad school.
Holderness said she was interviewed by the FBI – as was his second wife Willoughby – about their marriage after Porter was tapped for his current White House position as staff secretary. She shared the photos of her injuries with the FBI.
Porter required a security clearance – which he has not received.
‘I was his first wife and it wasn’t until there was a second wife and then a long-time girlfriend reaching out to me, who was experiencing some weird things. I started to realize that he keeps getting away with it. It’s a pattern now, it hasn’t gone away,’ Holderness said.
In 2010, Jennifer Willoughby – Porter’s second ex-wife – filed a protective order against him after he violated their separation agreement and refused to leave their apartment.
According to a complaint filed with the police, he punched the glass on the door to their home, cutting his hand in the process.
Last week, DailyMail.com revealed that Porter, who is Mormon, and White House Director of Communications Hope Hicks are dating, and were seen kissing in a cab on the way back to her apartment from a D.C.restaurant