President Donald Trump on Wednesday ignored questions about the White House’s response to former White House senior staffer Rob Porter’s resignation last week after Porter’s two ex-wives publicly discussed domestic violence allegations against him.
“Mr. President, did your staff handle the Porter allegations properly?” a reporter asked Trump during a photo opportunity.
“Is Gen. Kelly’s job safe?” another asked, referring to White House chief of staff John Kelly, as White House staff ushered them out of the room.
Trump did not answer any questions on the subject.
According to multiple reports, White House officials knew about the allegations against Porter before they surfaced publicly last week. Since Porter’s resignation, the White House has offered various justifications for keeping him on staff.
At least one of those explanations has been contradicted by another official account. Though the White House claimed that Porter’s background check — which included interviews with both of his ex-wives — was “ongoing,” FBI Director Christopher Wray testified on Tuesday that the bureau sent the results of a completed background check to the White House in July 2017.
Kelly in particular offered a strong defense of Porter after the allegations became public. According to several reports, Kelly initially urged Porter to stay in his job, but has since told staff members to communicate — against their disbelief — that he acted immediately to terminate Porter.
Trump has neither personally addressed the scandal nor expressed sympathies to Porter’s ex-wives, though he wished Porter well last week and tweeted sympathetically about people whose lives are “shattered and destroyed by a mere allegation.”
Peoples lives are being shattered and destroyed by a mere allegation. Some are true and some are false. Some are old and some are new. There is no recovery for someone falsely accused – life and career are gone. Is there no such thing any longer as Due Process?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 10, 2018
Square that sentiment with the “Lock Her Up!” chants pal. To quote Ricky from the Trailer Park Boys: “What comes around is all around.”
Future Sarah Huckabee line:
“Gen. Kelly played only a limited role in the administration, for a short time. The President never even met him.”
No comments from the Coward in Chief? Sad!
Trump Ignores Questions On Domestic Abuse Allegations Against Ex-Staffer
Okay how about the Russia Investigation? Can you say “no collusion” one more time?
No?
Okay, how about the Stock Market? Last week, it fell like Timmy down the well. Did you lose any money?
No tweets today either. Was Fox & Friends on this morning?