Democratic Rep. Don Beyer (Va.) on Wednesday suggested he would fire White House chief of staff John Kelly for keeping staff secretary Rob Porter as a White House aide despite knowing about allegations of abuse against him.
“If I found out my Chief of Staff was aware of convincing allegations that a subordinate engaged in repeated domestic abuse, and acted to shield them or keep them on my team, I would fire my Chief of Staff,” Beyer tweeted. “John Kelly’s judgment is appalling.”
“If I found out my Chief of Staff was aware of convincing allegations that a subordinate engaged in repeated domestic abuse, and acted to shield them or keep them on my team, I would fire my Chief of Staff,” Beyer tweeted. “John Kelly’s judgment is appalling.”
His comment comes after Porter’s ex-wives, Colbie Holderness and Jennifer Willoughby, told the Daily Mail they experienced physical and emotional abuse during their marriages to Porter.
According to reports, Porter was denied a national security clearance over the allegations against him, but Kelly allowed him to continue his work in the White House. Kelly also defended Porter, his right-hand-man after the Daily Mail published the allegations.
Porter resigned on Wednesday.
Kelly called Porter a “man of true integrity and honor” and reportedly told him to “stay and fight” the allegations, before a report with Porter’s first wife saying he punched and choked her came to light on Wednesday, prompting him to resign.
Kelly’s defense of Porter, who was reportedly dating White House communications director Hope Hicks, angered many in the White House ranks.
“If it was conclusively demonstrated that a member of my staff had beaten two spouses – if it was shown in pictures or documented with a restraining order – I wouldn’t let them gradually ‘transition’ out. I would fire them immediately,” Beyer said.
Kelly reportedly said in a White House meeting on the crisis that he wanted to defend Porter publicly.