The ex-wives of former White House staff secretary Rob Porter say they have received a letter of apology from Sen. Orrin Hatch, the Utah Republican who defended his former aide from ‘a vile attack’ after the former spouses accused Porter of domestic abuse.
Hatch wrote to both Jennie Willoughby and Colbie Holderness, they say that he was under the impression that ‘political enemies’ were out to get Porter ‘based on how the situation was described to him.’
Since seeing photos of a black eye Holderness says Porter gave her, Hatch has called domestic violence ‘abhorrent.’
‘I feel like it’s a sincere apology and having been in D.C. for upwards of 12-13 years, I feel like this is sufficient given what I know to be true,’ Willoughby told The Washington Post’s Erik Wemple.
The ex-wives of former White House staff secretary Rob Porter say they have received a letter of apology from Sen. Orrin Hatch, the Utah Republican who defended his former aide from ‘a vile attack’ after the former spouses accused Porter of domestic abuse
Hatch wrote to both Jennie Willoughby and Colbie Holderness, they say that he was under the impression that ‘political enemies’ were out to get Porter ‘based on how the situation was described to him’
Porter resigned Feb. 7 after DailyMail.com revealed accusations of domestic abuse from Holderness and Willoughby, though he denied them.
The senior Trump aide had been Hatch’s chief of staff for three years prior to the his service in the White House.
In his initial statement on the matter, Hatch, who is leaving the U.S. Senate, said Porter is ‘kind and considerate towards all’ and slammed the ‘character assassins’ trying to undermine his former aide.
After details of the alleged abuse came to light, Hatch said he was ‘heartbroken,’ didn’t know the details of Porter’s personal life. He also called domestic violence ‘abhorrent.’
Porter resigned Feb. 7 after DailyMail.com revealed accusations of domestic abuse from Holderness and Willoughby, though he denied them
Holderness told The Associated Press in an email Sunday that she had received ‘an apology letter’ from Hatch and that she appreciated it.
Wemple first reported that both Holderness and Willoughby had received letters of apology from Hatch.
Emails and calls for comment from Hatch’s office and from Willoughby were not immediately returned to the AP.
Willoughby told Wemple the apology letter was printed on Senate letter head and bore a handwritten message that said ‘prayer for good wishes and blessings.’
President Donald Trump defended Porter after his departure from the White House and wished him well while not mentioning the ex-wives and their accusations.
Trump later lamented via Twitter that ‘lives are being shattered and destroyed by a mere allegation,’ which critics pointed to as further evidence that Trump downplayed violence against women.
The Porter episode also raised questions about how long White House officials knew about the allegations against him and what role they played in Porter failing to obtain a permanent security clearance.
Neither President Trump nor the White House has apologized publicly for their defense of Porter, even after Trump spokesman Raj Shah called the accusations ‘credible’ and Chief of Staff John Kelly said they ‘were true.’
A White House spokesperson did respond to a request for comment in light of Hatch’s apology on Monday morning.
Responding to criticism over the way he handled the matter last Wednesday, President Trump told reporters: ‘I am totally opposed to domestic violence of any kind. Everyone knows that. And it almost wouldn’t even have to be said.’