Jim Acosta
@Acosta
Why did WH release statement from Kelly praising Porter? Senior WH official says WH wrote glowing statements about Porter in response to Daily Mail story but before the latest report that included black eye photograph. The black eye photograph changed everything, I'm told.
1:37 am · 8 Feb 2018
Matthew Miller
@matthewamiller
This is almost certainly dishonest spin. The black eye photograph was given to the FBI months ago. It is inconceivable that the FBI didn’t brief the WH on it after the background check. They have known for months.
And
Elizabeth Landers
@ElizLanders
Here’s the new statement from the chief of staff, saying he was “shocked” by allegations against Rob Porter:
"I was shocked by the new allegations released today against Rob Porter. There is no place for domestic violence in our society. 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.
Matthew Miller
@matthewamiller
Uh huh. Who at the WH did the FBI brief on the results of its background check, and who else did those people tell? Why did you think Porter wasn't given a permanent security clearance & why did you let him continue in his job without one?
Until the White House gives a full timeline on what the FBI told them about Porter and who decided to let him continue in his job, there is zero reason to believe anything they say.
And
Jeff Zeleny
@jeffzeleny
White House staff secretary Rob Porter will be out of the West Wing far sooner than @PressSec indicated today — as soon as tomorrow, one official says, as WH tries to contain fallout from how it has handled this.
2:13 am · 8 Feb 2018
Manu Raju
@mkraju
Major WH clean-up job underway now after WH initially defended Rob Porter amid domestic abuse allegations
And
Judd Legum
@JuddLegum
In sum:
-- White House knew about domestic abuse allegations, hired Rob Porter anyway
-- When abuse was reported, White House coordinated release of laudatory statements about Porter's character
-- Tried to convince him not to resign
-- Now say he could stay on for weeks
And
Gabriel Sherman
@gabrielsherman
I hope the press corps today asks John Kelly and @PressSec why they defended an accused serial wife beater on the record. What message does that send to women and girls?
Eric Boehlert
@EricBoehlert
btw, CNN dragged Hillary for five days bc 10 yrs ago she didn't fire campaign staffer--will CNN drag a GOP man for five days for employing known wife beater??
Alex Singer
@AlexCSinger16
Hillary regrets not sufficiently punishing worker who sexually harassed coworkers. She is tarred and feathered by the media.
John Kelly and the ENTIRE WH go to bat, deny allegations for a literal WIFE BEATER and "meh".
Yeah, sexism had NOTHING to do with 2016...
And
Walter Shaub
@waltshaub
So John Kelly, often touted as the White House's adult, falsely smeared a congresswoman, tells us a failure to compromise on slavery caused the civil war, called dreamers lazy, and protected a wife beater. Tell us again, @PressSec, how we're never allowed to criticize a general.
And
Emily Nussbaum
@emilynussbaum
Ya know Bannon also hit his ex-wife & no one gave a damn. This is a pattern with these guys, not an exception.
And
David Martosko
@dmartosko
If you haven't seen this anonymous blog post by Rob Porter's ex-wife Jennie Willoughby, make sure your sitting down before you click.
<a class="break-all" href="http://www.bornebackceaselessly.com/journal/2017/4/24/why-i-stayed?format=amp#click=t.co/zfWGYUEoWD" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.bornebackceaselessly.com/journal/2017/4/24/why-i-stayed?format=amp#click=t.co/zfWGYUEoWD
And
Ashley Parker
@AshleyRParker
Pence in Tokyo said he’d just learned about the allegations of domestic abuse against Rob Porter this morning. He declined to answer a follow up about why he often seems out of the loop when it comes to controversial White House staff news.