Tag: John Kelly

Kushner Resists Losing Access as Kelly Tackles Security Clearance Issues

The following article by Julie Hirschfeld Davis and Maggie Haberman was posted on the New York Times website February 20, 2018:

Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law, is one of dozens of White House officials operating under interim security clearances because of issues raised by the F.B.I. during their background checks, officials say. Credit Tom Brenner, The New York Times

WASHINGTON — Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser, is resisting giving up his access to highly classified information, prompting an internal struggle with John F. Kelly, the White House chief of staff, over who should be allowed to see some of the nation’s most sensitive secrets, according to White House officials and others briefed on the matter.

Mr. Kushner is one of dozens of White House officials operating under interim security clearances because of issues raised by the F.B.I. during their background checks, according to the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the clearances. The practice has drawn added scrutiny because of Rob Porter, the former staff secretary who resigned under pressure this month after domestic abuse allegations against him became public. Continue reading “Kushner Resists Losing Access as Kelly Tackles Security Clearance Issues”

Kelly makes changes to White House security clearance process after abuse allegations against top aide

The following article by Robert Costa was posted on the Washington Post website February 16, 2018:

Here’s what the changes to the security clearance process in the White House could mean for Jared Kushner, President Trump’s senior adviser and son-in-law. (Video: Bastien Inzaurralde/Photo: Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)

White House Chief of Staff John F. Kelly, under pressure over his handling of allegations of domestic abuse against a top aide, has approved an overhaul of how the White House manages security-clearance investigations, acknowledging missteps but putting the onus on the FBI and the Justice Department to now hand-deliver updates and provide more information.

The five-page document, signed by Kelly on Friday, was obtained by The Washington Post. Continue reading “Kelly makes changes to White House security clearance process after abuse allegations against top aide”

FBI director contradicts White House account on background investigation of aide accused of spousal abuse

The following article by Ellen Nakashima and Shane Harris was posted on the Washington Post website February 13, 2018:

FBI Director Christopher A. Wray said Feb. 13 the FBI submitted a partial report on former White House aide Rob Porter’s background check in March 2017. (Reuters)

FBI Director Christopher A. Wray on Tuesday contradicted the White House’s account of when the bureau informed officials about the status of a senior aide’s security-clearance investigation.

White House officials said that they were first contacted in the summer by the FBI about senior aide Rob Porter’s clearance. They also said that the investigation was never completed and that they did not know the extent of the allegations against Porter. He stepped down last week after accusations of spousal abuse by his two ex-wives. Continue reading “FBI director contradicts White House account on background investigation of aide accused of spousal abuse”

Will truth win out? Rob Porter’s departure holds a key to effective journalism in the Trump era.

The following article by Margaret Sullivan was posted on the Washington Post website February 11, 2018:

Rob Porter, left, with John Kelly. Amid domestic violence allegations, Porter resigned the same day a photo of his ex-wife’s beaten face surfaced. (Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images)

It never should have taken a photo of Colbie Holderness’s bruised eye to get Rob Porter out of the White House.

He shouldn’t have been there to begin with, as a top aide to President Trump, given the long-standing and credible charges of domestic abuse from Holderness, along with another of his ex-wives and his former girlfriend.

It’s outrageous, but that’s what it took.

Porter’s resignation — the very same day the photo of his ex-wife’s beaten face was made public by the Intercept — speaks volumes about how reality can prevail. Continue reading “Will truth win out? Rob Porter’s departure holds a key to effective journalism in the Trump era.”

Flake: White House saying it could have handled Porter allegations better an understatement B

The following article by Julia Manchester was posted on the Hill website February 11, 2018:

Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) said on Sunday it is an “understatement” to say the White House could have handled the abuse allegations against former staff secretary Rob Porter better.

“I think when the White House said they could have handled the situation better, that’s a bit of an understatement, yes. They could have done a lot better particularly with the Rob Porter situation,” Flake told NBC’s Chuck Todd on “Meet the Press.” Continue reading “Flake: White House saying it could have handled Porter allegations better an understatement B”

Trump Defends Rob Porter: ‘He … Says He’s Innocent’

The following article by John T. Bennett was posted on the Roll Call website February 9, 2018:

‘We hope he has a wonderful career,’ president says amid abuse scandal

Credit: AP Photo/Evan Vucci

President Donald Trump on Friday praised former Staff Secretary Rob Porter, who left the White House Thursday amid a domestic abuse scandal involving allegations from two ex-wives.

“We wish him well, he worked very hard. We found out about it recently and I was surprised by it, but we certainly wish him well and it’s a tough time for him,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “He did a very good job when he was in the White House.”

Despite images handed over to media outlets from his first wife showing her with a black eye she says Porter gave her on their honeymoon in the early-2000s, the president said White House officials “hope he has a wonderful career and he will have a great career ahead of him.” Continue reading “Trump Defends Rob Porter: ‘He … Says He’s Innocent’”

Kelly offers account of Porter exit that some White House aides consider untrue

The following article by Philip Rucker and Josh Dawsey was posted on the Washington Post website February 9, 2018:

White House officials said Chief of Staff John F. Kelly told them to give information about staff secretary Rob Porter’s ouster that contradicts other reports. (Joyce Koh/The Washington Post)

White House Chief of Staff John F. Kelly on Friday morning instructed senior staff to communicate a version of events about the departure of staff secretary Rob Porter that contradicts the Trump administration’s previous accounts, according to two senior officials.

During a staff meeting, Kelly told those in attendance to say he took action to remove Porter within 40 minutes of learning that abuse allegations from two ex-wives were credible, according to the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because discussions in such meetings are supposed to be confidential. Continue reading “Kelly offers account of Porter exit that some White House aides consider untrue”

The Rob Porter debacle just became the Rob Porter scandal

The following article by Aaron Blake was posted on the Washington Post website February 9, 2018:

A senior administration official told POLITICO John Credit: Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images

Update: And now we learn that, according to White House staff, Kelly tried to get aides to pass along a version of his actions that they consider to be untrue. Kelly reportedly wanted them to say he acted to remove Porter within 40 minutes of learning the abuse allegations against him were credible. As I argued, it’s the latest sign that Kelly is treading water.

White House spokesman Raj Shah wouldn’t elaborate Thursday on when Chief of Staff John F. Kelly and others became aware of allegations of spousal abuse by former staff secretary Rob Porter. And now we know why: It’s pretty damning. Continue reading “The Rob Porter debacle just became the Rob Porter scandal”

“He was F—ing Pissed”: With Rob Porter Gone, the Heat on John Kelly is Increasing

The following article by Gabriel Sherman was posted on the Vanity Fair website February 8, 2018:

Trump is not happy with the chaos; Jared and Ivanka are trying to right the ship; and even Hope Hicks, one of the president’s closest confidantes, is in trouble.

Ivanka Trump, John Kelly, and Jared Kushner look on as Donald Trump delivers remarks to reporters before a Cabinet meeting at the White House, January 10, 2018. Credit: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters.

A day after White House Staff Secretary Rob Porter resigned amid allegations he physically abused his ex-wives, the Trump administration is still struggling to contain the fallout. The question of who knew what, and when, is being hotly debated in the West Wing. Chief of Staff John Kelly, whose relationship with Trump has been strained in recent weeks, is taking the lion’s share of the blame, as I reported yesterday. On Wednesday night, Donald Trump vented to advisers that Kelly had not fully briefed him on Porter’s issues with women until recently, two sources told me. Trump was also not aware of the severity of the alleged abuse until yesterday, when Ivanka walked into the Oval Office and showed her father a photo published in the Daily Mail of Porter’s ex-wife with a black eye. “He was fucking pissed,” said one Republican briefed on the conversation. According to a source, Ivanka and Jared Kushner have been discussing possible chief-of-staff replacements. The problem is there’s not an obvious candidate waiting in the wings. Continue reading ““He was F—ing Pissed”: With Rob Porter Gone, the Heat on John Kelly is Increasing”

Top Trump Aides Are Said to Have Long Known About Abuse Accusations

The following article by Julie Hirschfeld Davis, Katie Rogers and Maggie Haberman was posted on the New York Times website February 8, 2018:

Rob Porter on Monday at Joint Base Andrews. He resigned from the White House on Wednesday. Credit: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

WASHINGTON — White House officials conceded Thursday that they regretted the way they handled accusations against Rob Porter, the staff secretary who resigned Wednesday after two former wives publicly accused him of abusing them. But they refused to provide any information about when President Trump’s most senior advisers first learned about the episodes.

Mr. Porter abruptly departed the West Wing on Thursday afternoon, one day after John F. Kelly, the chief of staff, and other senior officials had issued statements defending him and said they would prefer that he remain in his post. Continue reading “Top Trump Aides Are Said to Have Long Known About Abuse Accusations”