During that same month of November, White House counsel Don McGahn encouraged Porter to resign after he'd learned about Porter's security clearance being delayed in September and being contacted directly by Porter's latest ex-girlfriend about his abuse.
And yet, Porter remained.
Just as Acting Attorney General Sally Yates had come to the White House a year ago to warn them about Michael Flynn being potentially compromised, they did nothing until the issue hit the papers, until someone finally said "HEY!!" Despite all the warnings, Porter remained and Flynn remained. Kushner has remained and even David Sorensen, who had also had allegations of domestic violence, remained.
In response to all this Trump whined via tweet that Porter's life was "ruined by a single allegation without Due Process." However, Sorensen's ex-wife Jessica Corbett responded to Trump's tweet: "He got due process when I answered the FBI agents truthfully." She said the FBI's first question to her was, "Why did you and David get a divorce?" "Because he was abusive," Corbett said. "And I escaped and survived."
After Kelly initially defended Porter, he then sheepishly condemned domestic violence -- but behind the scenes other White House personnel state that he was actually trying to concoct a plausible story for his lack of action, and making them stick to it.
"White House Chief of Staff John Kelly is being accused by some of his fellow White House officials of asking them to give an account about the Rob Porter scandal that they say is not accurate.
"Two senior White House officials tell the Washington Post that Kelly told members present at a staff meeting Friday to tell reporters that 'he took action to remove Porter within 40 minutes of learning that abuse allegations from two ex-wives were credible.'
"One official tells the Post that many people at the meeting could not believe he was telling them to put out what they believed was a false story about his actions after the Porter scandal first broke."
In fact, right until the point that Porter resigned, he was in line to be promoted to deputy chief of staff and become Kelly's right hand.
"Rob Porter was involved in serious discussions to be promoted when he abruptly resigned from the White House last week amid allegations that he abused his two ex-wives, multiple sources familiar with the matter tell CNN.
"His anticipated elevation further highlights how top White House officials were willing to overlook indications from the FBI that there were potential abuse allegations in his background in exchange for professional competence in a tumultuous West Wing.
"Porter had been actively lobbying to take on new policy portfolios outside the traditional scope of the staff secretary, one person familiar with the matter said, which included speechwriting duties and a role in planning policy rollouts. Neither of those tasks is traditionally carried out by the staff secretary."
So what exactly does that tell us about Kelly's judgement, good sense, and integrity? Or for that matter, Trump's?
Porter is still allegedly dating White House communications director Hope Hicks. She had previously been dating Corey Lewandowski, who ultimately left his position as Trump's campaign manager after he assaulted a female reporter. When it happened, of course Trump denied it. He called her liar and defended Lewandowski, just as he defended Roger Ailes, and Bill O'Reilly, and Roy Moore when they were all accused of sexual misconduct. Just as he denied sexual assault allegations against himself.
Frankly if the FBI had done a background check on Trump, he probably wouldn't pass it. Not after his attorney Michael Cohen has admitted to paying adult film actress Stormy Daniels $130,000 in hush money.
Oh and lest we forget, former White House adviser Steve Bannon, who had for a time been granted access to the principal group inside the National Security Council, also has had allegations of spousal abuse and domestic violence lodged against him.
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