Tag: Trump White House

Dozens at White House lack permanent security clearances

The following article by Josh Dawsey, Matt Zapotosky and Devin Barrett was posted on the Washington Post website February 8, 2018:

Rob Porter, left, was President Trump’s White House staff secretary until he resigned after accusations of domestic violence. Credit: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

Dozens of White House employees are awaiting permanent security clearances and have been working for months with temporary approvals to handle sensitive information while the FBI continues to probe their backgrounds, according to U.S. officials.

People familiar with the security-clearance process said one of those White House officials with an interim approval is Jared Kushner — the president’s son-in-law and one of his most influential advisers.

The issue of clearances has become a major area of concern since White House staff secretary Rob Porter resigned after allegations surfaced that he had been violent toward his two ex-wives — accusations he has denied. Continue reading “Dozens at White House lack permanent security clearances”

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”

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”

Analysis: Response to Abuse Charges Dulls Trump’s Religious Message

The following article by John T. Bennett was posted on the Roll Call website February 8, 2018:

President urges Americans to be generous to all, but he’s silent on Porter matter

President Trump, seen here at his State of the Union address, told the audience at the National Prayer Breakfast “we praise God for how truly blessed we are to be American.” Credit: Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call

President Donald Trump on Thursday merged his “America first” governing philosophy with his religious views, saying Americans should feel lucky God placed them here.

But Trump’s religious-based message about being generous to one another and following God’s path to become “heroes to everybody” aligns imperfectly with how he and his staff have handled on-the-record allegations of domestic abuse by one of his closest aides.

Weaved throughout the president’s remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast were statements about that the United States being on a higher moral elevation than other countries — and thinly veiled urging to the American people to place more stock in following religious teachings. Continue reading “Analysis: Response to Abuse Charges Dulls Trump’s Religious Message”

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”

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”

At White House, a Day of Contradictions

The following article by John T. Bennett was posted on the Roll Call website February 6, 2018:

White House Chief of Staff John Kelly waits to speak as Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders introduces him in October. The two offered different opinions of whether the president can extend his own deadline on the DACA program. Credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images

Senior White House officials — from President Donald Trump on down — again on Tuesday contradicted one another and struggled to express clear messages as key deadlines approach.

Would Trump really shutter the government this week unless a bipartisan immigration deal is in place? Depends on who is speaking.

Does he possess the legal authority to extend a March 5 deadline he gave Congress for passing legislation to legalize the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals immigration program? Depends on whom you ask.

From Trump to Chief of Staff John Kelly to Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, senior White House officials offered sometimes diametrically opposed answers about the chief executive’s views on pressing issues. Continue reading “At White House, a Day of Contradictions”

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”