Rob Porter Explained

Rob Porter
Office:White House Staff Secretary
President:Donald Trump
Deputy:Derek Lyons
Term Start:January 20, 2017
Term End:February 7, 2018
Predecessor:Joani Walsh
Successor:Derek Lyons
Birth Name:Robert Roger Porter
Birth Date:25 October 1977
Birth Place:Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Party:Republican
Spouse:
Parents:Roger B. Porter
Ann Robinson
Education:Harvard University (BA, JD)
New College, Oxford (MPhil)

Robert Roger Porter (born October 25, 1977) is an American lawyer and former political aide who served as White House Staff Secretary for President Donald Trump from January 20, 2017, until February 7, 2018. He was previously Chief of Staff for U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah.

Porter resigned his position as White House Staff Secretary after domestic abuse allegations from both of his former wives came to public attention.[1]

Early life

Porter was born in Boston and grew up in Belmont, Massachusetts, and Washington, D.C.[2] He is the son of Roger B. Porter, a former aide to President George H. W. Bush and currently IBM Professor of Business and Government at Harvard University.[3] Porter's mother Ann Porter, who died in May 2017, was Faculty Dean of Harvard's Dunster House dormitory.[4] After graduating from high school, Porter interned in the U.S. Senate.[5]

Education

He attended Harvard University,[6] where he studied government and was president of the Harvard Republican Club and chair of Harvard Students for Bush. He graduated in 2002 with membership in Phi Beta Kappa.[7] [8]

After his freshman year at Harvard, he began a two-year stint as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in London. During the summer of his junior year, Porter completed an internship at the White House and worked for the Domestic Policy Council. He graduated in 2002. Porter was a Rhodes Scholar, studying Political Theory at the University of Oxford, where his thesis research focused on C. S. Lewis prior to graduation in 2005.[9] [10] Porter then attended Harvard Law School, graduating in 2008 with his Juris Doctor.[11]

Political career

Porter clerked for the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.[2] Porter has worked for Senators Rob Portman and Mike Lee.[12] [6]

In March 2014, Porter began working for Senator Orrin Hatch. Porter was initially appointed Deputy Chief of Staff and was promoted to Chief of Staff in June of that year. Porter left the role in January 2017, to become White House Staff Secretary for President Donald Trump.[13] Porter resigned from the position on February 7, 2018, following public allegations of spousal abuse from his two ex-wives. He was succeeded on an acting basis by Derek Lyons.[14]

Porter and two other former Trump aides criticized Bob Woodward's book in September 2018, with Porter defending the president and saying the book was "selective and often misleading" in describing the administration.[15]

The Wall Street Journal published a pro-Trump opinion article by Porter in March 2019, drawing criticism from his second ex-wife who said Porter must address his personal conduct during marriage before returning to public life.[16]

The House Judiciary Committee subpoenaed Porter in August 2019 to testify regarding Trump's actions in response to the Russia investigation,[17] and the White House directed Porter not to testify in September 2019.[18]

Personal life

In 2003, Porter married Colbie Holderness; they divorced in 2008 and she said he had physically abused her multiple times throughout their marriage.[19] In 2009, he married Jennifer Willoughby. After repeated verbal abuse, she obtained a restraining order against him in 2010. They divorced in 2013.[20]

Porter had been dating former White House Director of Communications Hope Hicks, though their relationship ended by December 2018.[21]

He is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was raised a member of the church and served a full-time, 24-month mission. He became less active in his church around the time of his second divorce.[7]

Domestic abuse allegations

In late November 2017, a girlfriend of Porter's alerted her friend, White House Counsel Don McGahn, regarding Porter's "anger problems".[22] Porter's ex-wife Willoughby had sought and received a three-day emergency protective order against him in June 2010.[23] Photographs of Holderness with a black eye and her detailed accounts of Porter's alleged abuse were also made public.[24] Despite their testimonies and evidence presented, Porter denied his ex-wives' allegations and resigned from his staff secretary post after they became public.[25] Willoughby stated "I don't want to be married to him. I would not recommend anyone to date him or marry him. But I definitely want him in the White House and the position he is in. I think his integrity and ability to do his job is impeccable."[26]

Porter resigned from the position of White House Staff Secretary on February 7, 2018, following public allegations of spousal abuse from his two ex-wives.[27] The allegations were supported by photographs of a black eye (which Porter claimed he took) and a restraining order.[28] [29] Porter has said the allegations are false and are part of a "coordinated smear campaign".[30] The Washington Post reported that White House counsel Don McGahn had known since January 2017 about the allegations Porter's ex-wives made to the FBI, and that Chief of Staff John F. Kelly had known about the allegations since October 2017, still promoting Porter after.[31] Post reporter Aaron Blake wrote that this development made the allegations a "full-blown scandal".[32]

Asked by reporters two days after Porter's resignation, President Donald Trump commented, "He said very strongly yesterday that he's innocent so you have to talk to him about that, but we absolutely wish him well, he did a very good job when he was at the White House."[33] In mid-February 2018, it was reported that Senator Hatch had sent letters to Porter's former wives, apologizing for initially defending Porter in response to their accusations against him.[34]

Kelly told reporters on March 2, 2018, that he sought Porter's resignation immediately after learning of the accusations on February 6 and regretted his handling of Porter's departure; he also said that contrary to earlier White House statements, Porter's background check had been completed by the FBI, as had been disputed publicly by bureau director, Christopher Wray.[35]

Notes and References

  1. News: Prokopandrew. Andrew. Rob Porter's domestic violence scandal, and what it means for Trump's White House, explained. 9 February 2018. Vox . February 8, 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180208225044/https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/2/8/16988560/rob-porter-allegations-resigns. February 8, 2018. mdy-all.
  2. News: Burr . Thomas . Taking on a 'key nerve center' of the White House . June 2, 2024 . The Salt Lake Tribune . March 27, 2017.
  3. News: Britain-bound. March 1, 2002. Harvard Magazine. February 7, 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180208062929/https://harvardmagazine.com/2002/03/britain-bound.html. February 8, 2018. mdy-all.
  4. News: College Mourns the Loss of Dunster Faculty Dean Ann Porter . The Harvard Crimson . May 18, 2017 . February 20, 2018 . Graham W. . Bishai . Derek G. . Xiao .
  5. News: Harvard leads way in Rhodes Scholars . Harvard Gazette . December 13, 2001 . September 12, 2017 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170913140545/https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2001/12/harvard-leads-way-in-rhodes-scholars/ . September 13, 2017 . mdy-all .
  6. News: Burr . Thomas . Trump names Hatch chief of staff as new White House staff secretary . The Salt Lake Tribune . January 18, 2017 . January 13, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170116160503/http://www.sltrib.com/home/4816172-155/trump-names-hatch-chief-of-staff . January 16, 2017 . live . mdy-all.
  7. News: Rob Porter's Charisma and Ambition Disguised Flare-ups of Anger. Rogers, Katie. New York Times. February 19, 2018. February 20, 2018 .
  8. News: Dimengo . Katherine . Phi Beta Kappa Members Named, Continuing 212-Year-Old Tradition of Recognition . June 3, 2024 . The Harvard Crimson . June 3, 2002.
  9. News: Hal Boyd: Meet the Mormon helping run Donald Trump's White House. Boyd. Hal. February 2, 2017. Deseret News. February 7, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20170429000622/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865672487/Meet-the-Mormon-helping-run-Donald-Trumps-White-House.html. April 29, 2017. live. mdy-all.
  10. Robert R. . Porter . Natural law and the political thought of C.S. Lewis, Thesis . M.Phil. . University of Oxford . 2004 . February 16, 2018 .
  11. Web site: Revolving Door : Rob Porter Education . OpenSecrets . February 16, 2018.
  12. News: Hatch aide named to key White House job. Romboy. Dennis. January 13, 2017. Deseret News . January 18, 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170114193945/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865671054/Hatch-aide-named-to-key-White-House-job.html. January 14, 2017. mdy-all.
  13. Hatch Applauds Selection of Chief of Staff as Senior White House Aide, Names Senior Counsel as New Chief . United States Senator Orrin Hatch . 2018-02-09. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180208184324/https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2017/1/hatch-applauds-selection-of-chief-of-staff-as-senior-white-house-aide-names-senior-counsel-as-new-chief. February 8, 2018. mdy-all.
  14. News: The Hill . White House taps interim replacement for aide accused of abuse . February 10, 2018 .
  15. News: Former Trump aides break their silence on Woodward book . September 11, 2018 . Politico . June 20, 2020 .
  16. News: Re-emergence of Trump Aide Accused of Abuse Is 'Deeply Troubling,' Ex-Wife Says . March 21, 2019 . The New York Times . Annie . Karni . March 20, 2020 .
  17. News: Ex-White House Aide Rob Porter Is Subpoenaed in House Impeachment Inquiry . August 26, 2019 . The New York Times . Julie Hirschfeld . Davis . Maggie . Haberman . June 20, 2020 .
  18. News: White House blocks two former aides from testifying before House Judiciary Committee . September 16, 2019 . The Washington Post . Rachael . Bade . Josh . Dawsey . June 20, 2020 .
  19. News: A timeline of the Rob Porter allegations and White House responses . CBS News . February 9, 2018 . February 16, 2018 .
  20. News: Former White House aide's ex-wives detail abuse allegations . CNN . February 9, 2018 . February 9, 2018 . Kevin . Liptak . MJ . Lee . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180208073125/http://edition.cnn.com/2018/02/07/politics/rob-porter-ex-wives-white-house/ . February 8, 2018 . mdy-all .
  21. News: White House aide Rob Porter resigning amid abuse allegations. CBS News. 8 February 2018. 8 February 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180208000559/https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/rob-porter-hope-hicks-boyfriend-white-house-aide-resigning-amid-abuse-allegations/. February 8, 2018.
  22. News: White House Let Rob Porter Keep Job Even After Receiving Final F.B.I. Report. Davis. Julie Hirschfeld. February 13, 2018. The New York Times. February 23, 2018. Shear. Michael D..
  23. News: Read the emergency protective order against Rob Porter. February 7, 2018. Washington Post. February 7, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180208124344/http://apps.washingtonpost.com/g/documents/politics/read-the-emergency-protective-order-against-rob-porter/2753/. February 8, 2018. live. mdy-all.
  24. News: Rob Porter is my ex-husband. Here's what you should know about abuse. . The Washington Post . February 12, 2018 . March 2, 2018 . Colbie . Holderness .
  25. News: Senior White House official to resign after ex-wives' allegations of abuse. Dawsey, Josh . Reinhard, Beth . Viebeck, Elise . The Washington Post. February 7, 2018. February 7, 2018. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20180208131200/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/senior-white-house-official-to-resign-following-allegations-of-abuse/2018/02/07/49aa80b8-0c19-11e8-baf5-e629fc1cd21e_story.html. February 8, 2018. mdy-all.
  26. News: White House aide Rob Porter resigns after allegations from two ex-wives. Politico. February 7, 2018. February 7, 2018. Andrew. Restuccia. Eliana. Johnson. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180207202306/https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/07/white-house-aide-rob-porter-resigns-after-allegations-from-ex-wives-397407. February 7, 2018. mdy-all.
  27. Jonathan Swan. White House staff secretary Rob Porter resigns amid abuse allegations . Axios.
  28. News: Rob Porter, White House Aide, Resigns After Accusations of Abuse. Haberman. Maggie. February 7, 2018. The New York Times. February 7, 2018. Rogers. Katie . 0362-4331. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180207205527/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/07/us/politics/rob-porter-resigns-abuse-white-house-staff-secretary.html. February 7, 2018. mdy-all.
  29. Web site: Former Wives of Top White House Aide Rob Porter Both Told FBI He Abused Them. Grim. Ryan. Brown. Alleen. February 7, 2018. The Intercept . February 7, 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180207185559/https://theintercept.com/2018/02/07/rob-porter-wives-abuse-trump-aide/. February 7, 2018. mdy-all.
  30. News: White House aide denies abuse allegations but resigns . CNN . February 7, 2018 . February 9, 2018 . Kevin . Liptak . Betsy . Klein . Kaitlan . Collins . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180208053012/https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/07/politics/rob-porter-white-house-resignation/ . February 8, 2018 . mdy-all .
  31. News: Dawsey . Josh . Reinhard . Beth . Top White House officials knew of abuse allegations against top aide for months . February 8, 2018 . The Washington Post . February 9, 2018 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180209042138/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/top-white-house-officials-knew-of-abuse-allegations-against-top-aide-for-months/2018/02/08/2faddcf2-0ce9-11e8-95a5-c396801049ef_story.html . February 9, 2018 . mdy-all .
  32. News: The Rob Porter debacle becomes the Rob Porter scandal. The Washington Post. Aaron. Blake. February 9, 2018. February 9, 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180209160912/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2018/02/09/the-rob-porter-debacle-becomes-the-rob-porter-scandal/. February 9, 2018. mdy-all.
  33. News: Trump defends top official accused of domestic abuse: 'He did a very good job'. Smith. David. February 9, 2018. The Guardian . February 9, 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180209183956/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/feb/09/trump-defends-rob-porter-accused-of-domestic-abuse. February 9, 2018. mdy-all.
  34. News: Hatch sends apology letters to Porter's ex-wives: report . The Hill . February 17, 2018 . February 18, 2018 . Avery . Anapol .
  35. News: John Kelly Says Resignation of Top Aide Rob Porter Was Mishandled . Michael C. . Bender . The Wall Street Journal . March 2, 2018 . March 5, 2018 . subscription .

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