slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

Dylan Stableford Wed, Feb 14

The Republican chairman of the House Oversight Committee says he has launched an investigation into the White House’s decision to keep staff secretary Rob Porter in his job for months after the West Wing was reportedly informed by the FBI of domestic abuse allegations against him.

“I spent two decades believing women and children who alleged abuse, even sometimes when no one else did,” Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., a former prosecutor, said on CNN’s “New Day” on Wednesday. “I have real questions about whether someone like this can be considered for employment, whether there’s a security clearance issue or not. So yeah, I’m troubled by almost every aspect of this.”

Porter resigned from his post last week after the allegations of domestic battery by his two ex-wives were published. Porter has denied the allegations. The White House said it did not become “fully aware” of the abuse claims against Porter until shortly before his resignation. But FBI Director Christopher Wray told the Senate Intelligence Committee on Wednesday that the bureau, which investigates White House staffers for security clearances, completed its report on Porter last July and sent it to the White House — calling into question the Trump administration’s evolving public account of its handling of the matter.

Both of Porter’s ex-wives said they were interviewed by the FBI in January 2017, shortly after his appointment as staff secretary, and they each reported their abuse allegations to investigators.

Gowdy was asked how Porter could have remained employed in a high-level position that involved handling classified information for so long.

“That’s a good question and I don’t know the answer,” Gowdy replied. “Who knew what, when and to what extent? Those are the questions that ought to be asked.”

“If you knew it in 2017 and the bureau briefed them three times, then how in the hell was he still employed?” Gowdy continued. “The security clearance is a separate issue — it’s an important issue, but separate. How do you have any job if you have credible allegations of domestic abuse? Again, I am biased towards the victims. I spent two decades believing them. But you don’t have to be biased towards the victim to ask how in the hell did this happen?”

Gowdy, who oversaw the House Intelligence Committee’s months-long investigation into the 2012 terrorist attack on the U.S. Consulate in B******i, Libya, said the panel launched a probe of the Porter case on Tuesday night after Wray’s testimony.

“The chronology is not favorable for the White House,” said Gowdy, who recently announced he is not seeking ree******n.

The Porter scandal has cast yet another shadow over a Trump White House that has become notorious for chaos and confusion. President Trump further stoked controversy by publicly praising Porter and pointing to his denial without expressing sympathy or support for the alleged victims — then appearing to cast doubt on the #MeToo movement in a weekend tweet.

Boo_Boo Loc: Jellystone

My question, if the FBI and local authorities knew about the allegations of spousal abuse, why did the FBI give him an interim security clearance? The reason that the FBI is charged with this duty is to eliminate the need for the employer,
in this case the White House from having to check out the individual. I was in the military and interim clearances were routinely given to employees as well as the military, the only documents we ever saw was the clearance.... not the supporting documents. While employed as a government employee... not supporting documents were ever provided for the denial or approval of a clearance. For very sensitive jobs, we had to have a lie detector test. It was never the responsibility of the hiring entity to do investigations.... it was the job of the FBI. Face the fact, it was not President Trump or the White House that messed up... it was the FBI.

PeterS

How was Porter still employed? Birds of a Feather! There are 17 women who say Trump sexually assaulted them with two more allegations of rape against him. Who better for a Trump aid than Porter?

PeterS

The White House also knew of the allegations of spouse abuse because Porter told McGahn when hired that he was concerned about his former wives coming forward with damaging accusations. Then in July the FBI finished it's assessment on Porter and delivered it to the WH security office. There were no surprises here Pennylynn except why the WH refused to act...

Boo_Boo Loc: Jellystone

The White House may have known about the allegations, but no direct knowledge, that is why the FBI adjudicate clearances.
It is up to them to investigate and grant or deny security clearances and the level of clearance. The White House is not responsible for any investigations.

PeterS

I didn't say the WH was responsible for any investigation only that they didn't act when they became aware...which was almost from day one...

Boo_Boo Loc: Jellystone

The FBI cleared him.... so, what did you expect the WH to do, deny him a position after he was hired and he was cleared by the FBI for the position? And if the WH took that action, you would be complaining that the WH unjustly treated him without giving him the benefit of the doubt. You know that spousal abuse is unlawful, it is assault, and you get jail time.... Right now, you have a he said/she said and not arrest record. And since when, without evidence can we take away a person's livelihood based on accusation?

jack sequim wa Loc: Blanchard, Idaho

Have you considered that the deep state liberal asses set up President Trump? Not disclosing specifics and as you stated, it is their responsibility to grant or deny based on their investigation.

Personally I think they set him up and forsee more booby traps.
I believe they knew Flynn"s destiny and orchestrated their knowledge to discredit President Trump.

Can you imagine the filth and dirt of Obama's cabinet if we could read the FBI files on Obama's appointees?

The FBI will continue to leak out information to further discredit President Trump.

If I wanted to hire a master in deception, a keen liar, someone that is smart in ways to plot and plan, I would put out a help wanted ad, in a major liberal media. I gotta give it to them, liberals have mastered the dark art of destroying lives. Thank God the American people are seeing liberals for what they are.

iFrank Loc: San Antonio

Excellent insight, I believe your reply to hold more credibility and t***h then others might be aware of, I do see the liberal orchestrate the deceptions and democrats with some rino's go with the flow like a reed in the wind.

Boo_Boo Loc: Jellystone

The entire thing reeks of a set up..... President Trump would have been damned by the Liberals regardless of which action he took and for that matter for any actions he takes. Our economy is growing, people are going back to work, courts are ruling in favor of American standards, and the sun will come up today..... but, Liberals will find something negative to say and wring their tiny little hands, scream at the sky, and cry.... but, trump was not supposed to win. As if the fix was assured them.'

Hemiman Loc: Communist California

You lost Peter when you started talking about fair treatment and FBI clearance all he wanted was the chance to bash The President.
When did we start firing someone when they haven’t been convicted of anything?The people are accused and bang they are gone, what the hell is going on.
One thing is for sure if they have set up President Trump he will find a way to flip it back in their faces,he hasn’t fallen into one of their traps yet.

Boo_Boo Loc: Jellystone

I have noticed that in the minds of people like Peter, no matter what our President does, it is turned into a negative.
It is also refreshing to have a president who is smart! When this entire mess is finished and our economy is strong,
even without the i******s making such huge contributions (according to some) how will they get through the day without bashing our President.

I do not think our President colluded with Russia....if anyone did it was obama who was caught on open mike and even k**lary. I am also looking at the FBI, those in Washington, with a Jaundice eye.... is it possible that they are dirty and worked together to try to get k**lary elected? I still feel certain that Comey is dirty paid hatchet-man, are the rest cut from the same cloth....it is looking more and more as though that is the case.

Lonewolf

Funny so many people around him including his family can't seem to Be able to get security clearances its been over a year, thay should be banned from the wh.
I don't trump could get one.

Radiance3

=================
That is a fact Pennylynn. Good job!
Then the whole thing blow up where the LEFT AND ALL DEMOCRATS blamed the president and Gen. Kelly, the Chief of Staff. The FBI CLEARANCE is the one that allows Porter to work at the WH. If there is a clearance, that document decides.

PeterS

And here I thought black eye pretty convincing evidence.

sorry, it came up as a download...

Attached file:
(Download)