One of Rob Porter’s ex-wives has slammed President Trump for supporting his former White House staffer after domestic abuse allegations were leveled against him.
The White House became in embroiled in controversy last week when both of Porter’s ex-wives – Jennie Willoughby and Colbie Holderness – came forward and claimed that they had been abused by him during their marriages.
Willoughby, Porter’s second wife, now says she is ‘floored’ by Trump’s continued support of his ex-staffer in the face of what she says is ‘overwhelming evidence’ of his abuse.
‘The truth exists whether the President accepts it or not,’ Willoughby said in an opinion piece published on TIME on Sunday.
Jennie Willoughby, Rob Porter’s second wife, says she is ‘floored’ by Trump’s continued support of his ex-staffer in the face of what she says is ‘overwhelming evidence’ of his abuse
Willoughby said she watched on Friday as Trump praised Porter’s work and repeatedly said his staffer had ‘declared his innocence’.
‘I was floored. What was his intent in emphasizing that point? My friend turned to me and said: ‘The President of the United States just called you a liar’,’ Willoughby said.
Trump again defended Porter – as well as another staffer since accused of abuse – in a tweet on Saturday, saying that ‘people’s lives are being destroyed’ by ‘a mere allegation’.
Willoughby said his tweet implied that both she and Holderness were liars and that abuse was something to be questioned and doubted.
‘Ultimately, this is not a political issue. This is a societal issue, and the tone has just been reset by the White House,’ she said.
‘If the most powerful people in the nation do not believe my story of abuse in the face of overwhelming evidence, then what hope do others have of being heard?’
Willoughby said she watched on Friday as Trump praised Porter’s work and repeatedly said his staffer had ‘declared his innocence’
Willoughby said Trump’s tweet on Saturday implied that both she and Holderness were liars and that abuse was something to be questioned and doubted
Porter resigned from his position as staff secretary after DailyMail.com published photos of bruises that Holderness said her husband gave her during their marriage.
His first wife claims Porter choked and punched her during their marriage, while Willoughby says he dragged her wet and naked out of the shower and was verbally abusive, calling her a f***ing b***h’ on their honeymoon.
Porter has denied both of the women’s accusations but still resigned protesting his innocence.
The President addressed the allegations against Porter for the first time on Friday, saying that he was ‘sad’ to learn of the situation.
‘He did a very good job when he was in the White House and we hope he has a wonderful career, and hopefully he will have a great career ahead of him,’ Trump said in the Oval Office.
His first wife Colbie Holderness claims Porter choked and punched her during their marriage
Porter resigned from his position as staff secretary after DailyMail.com published photos of bruises (pictured above) that Holderness said her husband gave her during their marriage
‘Now, he also, as you probably know, he says he’s innocent. And I think you have to remember that. He said very strongly yesterday that he’s innocent.’
The controversy has embroiled the White House given senior White House aides – including chief of staff John Kelly – were supposedly made aware of the allegations against Porter in November after the FBI learned about them during a background check.
His two ex-wives said they spoke to the FBI during its standard background check on the White House official who was seeking a government security clearance for his high-level position.
The allegations delayed Porter’s ability to get permanent clearance. He was granted interim clearance when he joined the White House in January 2017.
The timeline of who knew what, and when, is still in question in relation to Porter’s abuse allegations.