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Rob Porter’s resignation over abuse allegations sparks White House scandal

Contributors: Vox Staff

Rob Porter, a top White House official, resigned Wednesday after allegations of domestic abuse from two of his ex-wives were reported by the Daily Mail and confirmed by other news outlets.

Porter’s resignation has turned into a deepening scandal around the White House because the FBI and other officials, including Chief of Staff John Kelly, reportedly knew of the abuse allegations months ago and allowed Porter to keep his job as staff secretary — a position that includes managing the flow of documents to the president’s desk. It’s raised questions about how Porter was able to keep his important job even though he couldn’t get a high-level security clearance, and led to scrutiny of security clearances in the Trump White House more generally.

20 Total Updates Since
Feb 7, 2018, 6:30pm EST
  • April 30, 2018

    John Kelly reportedly called women more emotional than men. The White House defended him.

    By Jen Kirby

    NBC News reports that Kelly’s remarks "rattled" female staffers.

  • February 16, 2018

    The White House and the FBI knew more than enough about Rob Porter

    By Jane Coaston

    And still did nothing.

  • February 16, 2018

    Rob Porter’s case shows how the Mormon Church can fail abused women

    By Tara Isabella Burton

    Colbie Holderness and Jennifer Willoughby called out the church for not taking domestic abuse seriously enough.

  • February 15, 2018

    The White House’s story on Rob Porter is falling apart

    By Jane Coaston

    Here’s what we know.

  • February 13, 2018

    Rob Porter’s ex-wife: “Being strong” doesn’t protect you from abuse

    By Rachel Wolfe

    Colbie Holderness speaks out in a Washington Post op-ed.

  • February 10, 2018

    Why Donald Trump suddenly cares about “due process”

    By Laura McGann

    #MeToo is hitting a little too close to home.

  • February 10, 2018

    A second White House aide resigns over domestic abuse allegations

    By Jen Kirby

    Speechwriter David Sorensen is stepping down as the Rob Porter fallout is just beginning.

  • February 10, 2018

    Trump is worried about lives “shattered...by a mere allegation” after two aides are accused of domestic abuse

    By Emily Stewart

    The president worries about due process — at least when it comes to men.

  • February 9, 2018

    Trump’s long history of employing — and defending — men accused of hurting women

    By Anna North

    Rob Porter is one of a string of Trumpworld men accused of abuse.

  • February 9, 2018

    John Kelly has a history of believing men over women

    By Jen Kirby

    The White House chief of staff once called women sacred. He hasn’t exactly lived up to the ideal.

  • February 9, 2018

    Trump just taught a master class in manipulating language to excuse abuse

    By Laura McGann

    The president’s statement on Rob Porter erased his accusers.

  • February 9, 2018

    The Rob Porter scandal keeps getting worse for Trump’s White House

    By Andrew Prokop

    Porter resigned after his two ex-wives came forward to allege abuse. But what did the White House know?

  • February 9, 2018

    The White House had to protect Rob Porter to save Donald Trump

    By Jane Coaston

    Supporting an alleged domestic abuser is about supporting Trump.

  • February 9, 2018

    Trump reportedly thinks Hope Hicks put herself before White House in the Porter scandal

    By Jen Kirby

    The president is said to be frustrated with his close aide over her handling of the White House’s response to the abuse allegations.

  • February 9, 2018

    Trump just praised the White House aide accused of domestic abuse

    By Jane Coaston

    "He says he’s innocent."

  • February 9, 2018

    John Kelly must go

    By Dylan Matthews

    The White House chief of staff has proven himself unfit for the job.

  • February 9, 2018

    Rob Porter isn’t the first reported abuser White House Chief of Staff John Kelly has defended

    By Jane Coaston

    In 2016, Kelly defended a Marine convicted of sexual misconduct — who was arrested again in 2017 for "indecent liberties" with children.

  • February 8, 2018

    The White House press office changed its story on Rob Porter 3 times in one day

    By Jane Coaston

    In one press conference, the White House raised dozens of new questions.

  • February 7, 2018

    White House staff secretary Rob Porter resigns after abuse allegations

    By Jen Kirby

    The administration official reportedly did not have full security clearance.

  • February 7, 2018

    This one photo explains job stability in Trumpworld

    By Jane Coaston

    Everyone in this photograph has left the Trump White House — or is on their way out.