White House Staff Secy Rob Porter Resigns After Explosive Reports On Marital Abuse With Both Ex-Wives

Trump's White House Communications Director Hope Hicks is said to be dating White House Staff Secretary Rob Porter, 40. This snap taken 10 days ago was featured in The Daily Mail's explosive report on Porter's two past marriages and claims by both wives of physical and emotional abuse. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced this afternoon that Porter will be stepping down. 

Porter's first wife, Colbie Holderness, told the DM that Porter punched her in the face during a trip to Florence in the early 2000s, and she provided photos of her black eye. 

Rob Porter, served as the staff secretary and often controlled the paper flow to President Trump’s desk, along with his daily schedule. Porter also oversaw the White House’s policy implementation process and worked closely with Chief of Staff John F. Kelly to try to instill discipline in the chaotic West Wing. He spent hours of the day with Trump and frequently traveled with him on Air Force One.

Porter’s second ex-wife, Jennifer Willoughby, received a temporary emergency protective order in June 2010 after complaining he refused to leave her residence, in violation of their separation agreement.

The Washington Post obtained a copy of the document that concluded that “reasonable grounds exist to believe that [Porter] has committed family abuse and there is probable danger of a further such offense.”

According to Willoughby’s account in the document, Porter “punched in the glass” on her door during the incident. “I called the police, afraid he would break in,” she said in the account. “. . . When he heard me give my name and address to the 9-1-1 dispatcher, he drove off.;”

Both White House Chief of Staff John Kelly, who Politico reports knew about Porter's inability to get a top-level security clearance due to his past problems, and Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah), Porter's previous boss in the Senate issued statements on his behalf. 

“Rob Porter is a man of true integrity and honor and I can’t say enough good things about him,” Kelly said Tuesday night, hours before pictures appeared that included Holderness’s blackened eye. “He is a friend, a confidante and a trusted professional. I am proud to serve alongside him,”

On Tuesday night, Hatch released a statement supportive of Porter.

“It’s incredibly discouraging to see such a vile attack on such a decent man,” he said. “Shame on any publication that would print this — and shame on the politically motivated, morally bankrupt character assassins that would attempt to sully a man’s good name. I know Rob. I’ve known him for years, both as a close friend and as a personal advisor. He is kind and considerate towards all. The country needs more honest, principled people like Rob Porter, which is why I hope that this cynical campaign to discredit his character ultimately fails.”

It seems that Willoughby might agree. "I want to be very clear when I say this,' Willoughby said. '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. And the majority of the issues he suffers from are very personal and intimate."

Both of Porter's ex-wives were in contact with each other and interviewed by the FBI in conjunction with the Trump aide's paperwork for his highest-level security clearance. Willoughby also says that she received a message from his previous girlfriend, before Hope Hicks, informing her that Porter was considering hiring a private investigator to look into her and work with a journalist to write about her -- and presumably discredit her.