CNN: Kelly Sent Email About Domestic Abuse To WH Staff Thursday Evening

White House Chief of Staff John Kelly chats with reporters before a roundtable discussion on the MS-13 gang in the Cabinet Room of the White House on February 6, 2018 in Washington, DC. / AFP PHOTO / MANDEL NGAN ... White House Chief of Staff John Kelly chats with reporters before a roundtable discussion on the MS-13 gang in the Cabinet Room of the White House on February 6, 2018 in Washington, DC. / AFP PHOTO / MANDEL NGAN (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images) MORE LESS
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White House Chief of Staff John Kelly sent an email to staff Thursday evening, condemning domestic violence following the Wednesday resignation of former White House aide Rob Porter over allegations of abuse, CNN reported.

“While we are all processing the shocking and troubling allegations made against a former White House staffer, I want you to know that we all take matters of domestic violence seriously,” he wrote, according to the email obtained by CNN. “Domestic violence is abhorrent and has no place in our society.”

Kelly has been criticized for his initial response to news of Porter’s resignation, and Kelly is under scrutiny for what he reportedly knew about the allegations before they became public. Porter’s background clearance check was reportedly stalled because of the accusations of domestic abuse from his ex-wives, which Kelly reportedly knew about.

The White House has been unclear about what Kelly knew before the allegations were made public by The Daily Mail this week, but White House spokesperson Raj Shah said Thursday that the White House was not aware of the photos of Porter’s first wife Colbie Holderness’ black eye until they were made public.

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Notable Replies

  1. Avatar for j.dave j.dave says:

    I know it’s early, but this e-mail has a really good chance to hold up as the biggest lie of the day. (Non-Trump division, anyway …)

  2. I believe this is known as “closing the barn door after the horse has bolted.”

    Or, alternatively, “covering your ugly white ass”…

  3. Avatar for jsfox jsfox says:

    Given Kelly’s enabling behavior I am doubting the sincerity of this email. But I do think it’s cute he ends with thanking staff for serving the American people, as if.

  4. Domestic violence - bad. Incompetent executive - bad too.

  5. Oh, John Kelly. Fuck you!

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