Tag: John Kelly

John Kelly’s credibility is at risk after defending aide accused of domestic violence

The following article by Philip Rucker was posted on the Washington Post website February 8, 2018:

Credit: Screenshot / CNN

White House Chief of Staff John F. Kelly first found his credibility being challenged in October, when he leveraged his standing as a retired four-star Marine Corps general who had lost a son on the battlefield to try to contain a political crisis over President Trump’s calls to the families of fallen soldiers.

His reputation took another hit when he later refused to apologizefor falsely attacking a Democratic congresswoman. And another when he called Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee “honorable” and blamed the Civil War on a lack of compromise. And yet another when early this week he said some immigrants known as “dreamers” were “too lazy to get off their asses.” Continue reading “John Kelly’s credibility is at risk after defending aide accused of domestic violence”

The White House’s Rob Porter debacle is a sign of incompetence or hubris — or both

The following article by Aaron Blake was posted on the Washington Post website February 8, 2018:

Rob Porter’s ex-wife Jennie Willoughby told The Post in an interview that the White House aide was abusive during their marriage. (Dalton Bennett/The Washington Post)

“Rob Porter is a man of true integrity and honor, and I can’t say enough good things about him,” White House Chief of Staff John F. Kelly said in an initial statement Tuesday about allegations that the top White House aide had abused an ex-wife.

By Wednesday afternoon, Porter resigned amid allegations that he had abused another ex-wife, who produced photographs of her black eye. And Kelly was suddenly “shocked.” Continue reading “The White House’s Rob Porter debacle is a sign of incompetence or hubris — or both”

Abuse Charges, Military Parade Put White House on Defensive

The following article by John T. Bennett was posted on the Roll Call website February 7, 2018:

Trump still has confidence in Staff Secretary Rob Porter despite ex-wives’ allegations

Donald Trump admires a military parade in Paris last year Credit: AFP

The White House moved one step closer to achieving its goal of a two-year budget deal that increases military spending, but was dogged Wednesday by questions about a possible military parade through the streets of Washington and a senior adviser accused of multiple assaults on ex-wives.

As Senate Republican and Democratic leaders announced a spending deal that includes several White House priorities, senior aides in the West Wing spent much of the day holed up in meetings about allegations Staff Secretary Rob Porter punched and kicked — and otherwise abused — his two ex-wives. Continue reading “Abuse Charges, Military Parade Put White House on Defensive”

In new statement, Kelly says he was ‘shocked’ by Porter allegations and condemns abuse

The following article by Drew Restuccia and Eliana Johnson was posted on the Politico website February 7, 2018:

More than 24 hours after issuing a statement defending staff secretary Rob Porter amid abuse allegations, White House chief of staff John Kelly said in a second statement that he was ‘shocked’ and condemned domestic abuse.

A senior administration official told POLITICO John Kelly (left) and other top White House officials were aware of the allegations against Rob Porter (right). Credit: Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images

White House chief of staff John Kelly said late Wednesday that he was “shocked” by domestic abuse allegations against staff secretary Rob Porter — more than 24 hours after being quoted on the record defending Porter in an initial report.

“I was shocked by the new allegations released today against Rob Porter. There is no place for domestic violence in our society,” Kelly said in a statement issued after-hours by the White House.

Kelly continued, “I stand by my previous comments of the Rob Porter that I have come to know since becoming Chief of Staff, and believe every individual deserves the right to defend their reputation. I accepted his resignation earlier today, and will ensure a swift and orderly transition.” Continue reading “In new statement, Kelly says he was ‘shocked’ by Porter allegations and condemns abuse”

Rob Porter, White House Aide, Resigns After Accusations of Abuse

The following article by Maggie Haberman and Katie Roger was posted on the New York Times website February 7, 2018:

Rob Porter, the White House staff secretary, left, with Stephen Miller, a senior adviser to President Trump, on Monday in Washington. Credit Pete Marovich, The New York Times

WASHINGTON — As the White House staff secretary, Rob Porter is not a public figure, but he is responsible for paper flow to the president, a job of crucial importance in the Trump administration. He frequently travels with President Trump on Air Force One, and he helped write Mr. Trump’s first State of the Union address last month.

But despite initial support from John F. Kelly, the White House chief of staff, and other West Wing staff aides, Mr. Porter announced his resignation on Wednesday, a day after his two former wives accused him in interviews of physical abuse when they were married to him.

His troubles were not a complete secret at the White House: Two people close to the White House said that the allegations against him made by his former wives, Colbie Holderness and Jennifer Willoughby, had contributed to a delay in granting him a permanent security clearance.

In a statement, Mr. Porter said that “these allegations are simply false,” even as details of the alleged abuse and photographs of one of his former wives with a black eye that she said he had given her were widely circulated. Continue reading “Rob Porter, White House Aide, Resigns After Accusations of Abuse”

White House aide Rob Porter resigns after allegations from ex-wives

The following article by Andrew Restuccia and Eliana Johnson was posted on the Politico website February 7, 2018:

Porter, a former chief of staff to Utah Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch, served as President Donald Trump’s staff secretary.

White House staff secretary Rob Porter, a mostly unknown but deeply influential aide who spends almost every day by President Donald Trump’s side, said Wednesday he plans to resign following abuse allegations from his ex-wives.

In a pair of reports published by the Daily Mail, Porter’s two ex-wives detailed episodes of alleged verbal and physical abuse. The Daily Mail published a copy of a protective order obtained by Porter’s second wife in 2010, and later published photographs of Porter’s first wife with a black eye she said came from Porter punching her. Continue reading “White House aide Rob Porter resigns after allegations from ex-wives”

Democrats confront Kelly over DACA comments in closed-door meeting

The following article by Tal Kopan was posted on the CNN website February 6, 2018:

Washington (CNN) — White House chief of staff John Kelly was confronted by lawmakers in a closed-door meeting about comments he made Tuesday that some immigrants who didn’t apply for protections under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program were “too lazy.”

Kelly reiterated his sentiment, according to people in the room, and did so with reporters after the meeting, as well, saying “some of them just should have probably gotten off the couch and signed up.”

Continue reading “Democrats confront Kelly over DACA comments in closed-door meeting”

White House Chief of Staff: Trump not expected to extend DACA deadline

The following article by Erica Werner and Ed O’Keefe was posted on the Washington Post website February 6, 2018:

White House Chief of Staff John F. Kelly says he doesn’t expect President Trump to extend DACA’s deadline if Congress fails to reach an immigration deal. (Photo: Melina Mara/The Washington Post)

White House Chief of Staff John F. Kelly said Tuesday that President Trump is not expected to extend a March 5 deadline for when legal protection and work permits begin to expire for young immigrants known as “dreamers” — raising the stakes for lawmakers struggling to reach a solution.

“I doubt very much” that Trump would extend the program, Kelly told reporters during an impromptu interview at the U.S. Capitol. Continue reading “White House Chief of Staff: Trump not expected to extend DACA deadline”

White House Will Release Nunes Memo ‘Quick,’ Kelly Says

The following article by John T. Bennett was posted on the Roll Call website January 31, 2018:

Without reviewing it, Trump said he would ‘100 percent’ make it public

White House Chief of Staff John Kelly says President Donald Trump “wants everything out so the American people can make up their own minds.” Credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images file photo

The White House plans to release soon a classified memo crafted by House Republicans that casts doubt on the Justice Department’s investigation into the Trump campaign’s alleged ties to Russia and that country’s meddling in the 2016 election, Chief of Staff John Kelly said Wednesday.

“It will be released here pretty quick, I think, and the whole world can see it,” Kelly told Fox News Radio. Continue reading “White House Will Release Nunes Memo ‘Quick,’ Kelly Says”

Trump Was Not ‘Fully Informed’ in Campaign Vows on Wall, Chief of Staff Says

The following article by Julie Hirschfeld Davis, Sheryl Gay Stolberg and Thomas Kaplan was posted on the New York Times website January 17, 2018:

White House chief of staff John F. Kelly speaks at the White House media briefing on Oct. 19. (Photo by Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)

WASHINGTON — President Trump’s chief of staff privately told a group of Democratic lawmakers on Wednesday that Mr. Trump had not been “fully informed” when promising voters a wall along the Mexican border last year, and said that he had persuaded the president it was not necessary. He also expressed optimism that a bipartisan immigration deal could eventually be reached.

John F. Kelly, the retired Marine general credited with bringing a measure of discipline to Mr. Trump’s chaotic White House during his six months as chief of staff, told members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus that he had educated the president about the issue of immigration, adding that Mr. Trump had “evolved” on the wall. Continue reading “Trump Was Not ‘Fully Informed’ in Campaign Vows on Wall, Chief of Staff Says”