Ernst: Trump Needs To ‘Send A Stronger Message’ Condemning Domestic Abuse

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Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) on Tuesday said that she’s “extremely disappointed” with the “situation” surrounding domestic abuse allegations against former White House staff secretary Rob Porter and the White House’s response to them.

“I’m not sure of the internal workings of the White House and when they found out what they found out,” Ernst said on CNN. “But I’m extremely disappointed in this situation. Abuse is never okay. It is never okay. And so I feel very bad for those women.”

Porter’s two ex-wives, Jennifer Willoughby and Colbie Holderness, accused Porter of physical abuse. Both women gave interviews last week detailing Porter’s alleged behavior, and Porter resigned on Wednesday. The White House — and in particular chief of staff John Kelly — responded to the allegations by expressing support for Porter and citing his denials, though Kelly has since pushed various different narratives about his own response.

Ernst said she is “glad” that Porter’s ex-wives “have come forward.”

“We need to send a very clear signal that it won’t be tolerated, and it won’t be tolerated with our employees,” she said, referring to abuse.

Asked whether Trump is sending that signal, Ernst said, “I think he needs to send a stronger message.”

Politico on Tuesday reported that the White House arranged an off-the-record briefing with Porter and four reporters shortly after the Daily Mail published a photo of Holderness with a black eye she said Porter gave her.

“I think you can’t justify it,” Ernst said of the briefing. “You can’t justify that.”

Ernst added that she believes the women, but hesitated to endorse a congressional investigation into the matter.

“It’s possible that that could be looked into. But how much time are we focusing on those employees, or should we be focusing on other things of a federal scale?” Ernst said. “We can raise this issue and we can talk about this issue and encourage awareness, but we also have national security issues going on that we really need to focus on.”

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Notable Replies

  1. Republican women finally speak out on 8th day of scandal. Being hesitant and afraid to speak up is one thing being in an abusive relationship can do to you.

  2. Shorter Ernst: “I’m sure Donald really loves us and I’m sure he’ll do better in the future.”

  3. Hmmmm…she must have drawn the short straw to go out and say something on behalf of GOP women. That “statement” of hers is anything but strong itself.

    I smell something in the air…

  4. Avatar for erik_t erik_t says:

    If there’s anything Senator Ernst knows how to do, it’s emphasize her great concern. Perhaps, if the phase of the moon is right, she is even troubled.

    Profoundly useless person does profoundly useless things.

  5. GOP Enabler: “I’m extremely disappointed in this situation.”

    I know, right?

    You elect a guy whom nineteen women have accused of sexual assault…

    Who’s on tape bragging about groping other peoples’ wives…

    With a history of sexually-suggestive public comments about his own daughter

    And then he turns around and pulls this!

    “It’s like I don’t even know you anymore!”

    (Or something.)

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