Senior White House aide Rob Porter has announced his resignation
amid reports that he mentally and physically abused two former wives.
Colbie Holderness and Jennifer Willoughby have made public allegations of abuse during their prior relationships with the soon-to-be-former White House staff secretary. Willoughby, who divorced Porter in November 2013,
decided to go public about the allegations after facing pressure from Porter to issue a statement that she felt “minimized” her
experiences in their marriage. Holderness, Porter’s first wife, described their relationship as “verbally, emotionally and physically abusive”
in an interview with the Daily Mail.
According to sources, these reports of abuse against his previous wives have been holding up his
security clearance for the past year. Porter is still working in the White House-- with access to sensitive documents in and out of the Oval Office-- based on an "interim" background clearance granted when he came on board early in the Trump Administration. It is rare and very unusual for a federal employee to continue to work for the government on an interim clearance for such a long period. As soon as background investigators became aware of the abuse allegations, it would have been standard procedure for Porter's supervisor in the White House to be made aware of the allegations, as it would make him a prime target for blackmail and potential compromise. What John Kelly and/or Trump knew and when they knew it will become a serious issue as the story develops further.
The White House and Porter deny all allegations, of course. Porter is rumored to be dating White House communications director Hope Hicks, so her role in the affair is also sure to come under scrutiny as well.
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