Had this happened with President Obama in the Oval Office ...
7
Haven't we all learned by now that this is a pass-the-buck kind of operation at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave? No accountability, no credibility ............................ and what's with all of the lapel pins everyone's always sporting? Lame!
6
It's hard to believe we are safe with this administration. They care nothing about security, or the truth for that matter.
This administration is far, far, far more of a threat to us and our way of life than Vlad could ever be. It's up to us citizens to protect our country, now. This administration has proved over and over who they serve, and it ain't us.
Let's be good citizens, and be diligent. It takes two to argue, and yet those same two people can instead combine their thoughts and ideas to come up with a solution, rather than a war.
We can only be divided if we allow ourselves to be divided. Vote. Volunteer if you can to help with that process.
We have to step up and be the adults in the room, because in this kind of propaganda assault, we are the only viable defense. Think about it.
6
It's all part of MAGA, and keeping America SAFE, and FAMILY VALUES! Sometimes I get a distressing notion that this "alternative reality ," is Vladimir Putin's ultimate algorithm!
9
They're all a bunch of clowns, mendacious and incompetent. And, more likely than not, it's only going to get worse. This is what happens when the candidate who lost the popular vote (and in my opinion, the election) is permitted to assume the presidency. Twice in my lifetime, and both times have been utterly disastrous. Why aren't Americans demanding that the electoral college be reformed or eliminated?
9
It seems pretty clear that Mr. Porter was rejected for a security clearance as early as March 2017 for an unusually sensitive and position that handles highly classified data that would usually be prioritized for clearance within a matter of weeks. For the White House to insist there were some additional steps left in the process after the FBI Director testified it was finalized at least by last month is horrible, yet all too typical of this administration.
What's worse are Trump and Kelly's full-throated endorsements of Porter who should never have been near the Oval Office. It's completely reminiscent of Trump's full-throated support of the now-indicted Gen. Flynn.
There is no moral center there to be found.
3
Mr.Porter had no criminal problem for his domestic violence abuse allegations therefore why discharge him from his position.t This practice of investigating everyone in politics will result in turning americans off to political careers.
I just checked over at the FOX and I see no stories about this, not one word about people working in the White House handling top secret information... with no security clearance. I do see sort of a rabid dog type commenting going on about other trivial stories.
That was a horrible experience. Thank you NYT posters, for being real human beings. I will never bother to see 'what the other side' is saying about an important topic again, at least not at FOX "News". They don't know what an important topic is, much less have the ability to talk about it.
4
Is this a good time to remind people of all the fuss about Clinton's private email account? Trey Gowdy is an expert in these matters. I'd like to hear his observations, before he quits.
2
Give me truth, even if it inconveniences or hurts, even if it is not popular, even if it is the opposite of what the President asserts and his appointees echo. When we know the truth, empathy and kindness follow. In the end, Truth conquers all. The end won't arrive until we vote for truth.
1
Where are all of the people who chanted " lock her up" ? Also where are those " investigation specialist" in the US House of Representative?
6
Its takes one to know one. Trump is a magnet for incompetence and corruption, No surprise here.
9
It may be that the Trump administration was misled by Porter;s Hollywood casting appearance. He looked perfect for the job and those responsible to do so failed to accept information which indicated differently!
5
In Trump-World, the behavior of Rob Porter was considered a feature, not a bug.
12
Talk about privilege. Who GETS let alone is able to keep a job for which I can't past the security clearance? Most job offers are tentative to you getting clearance.
6
This ads to the swamp and makes it murkier and more smelly. And DT was going to drain the swamp? Yuk
7
We now hear that Trey Gowdy will be leading a House Oversight Committee hearing into the Rob Porter matter.
If the congressman puts one tenth the effort into this atrocity as he did into the Benghazi hearings, perhaps we'll get to the bottom of this.
And, if pigs had wings....
NOT my president
9
So, wife beaters are ok.
Agents for foreign governments are ok.
Adulterers are a dime a dozen, and very profitable for the mistress, and ok.
Nazis and white supremacists, sure, they're fine.
Etc., etc., etc.
The best thing about this administration is that those that follow never again have to worry about what they do or think. The GOP has reset the bar below ground.
.
13
Porter gate?
2
Is anyone really surprised about this. Rob Porter seems like the type of person that fits right in with the current administration.
8
Even if we ignore the sheer craziness of letting people who don't have security clearances run around with classifed documents and sit in on classifed briefings, I honestly don't understand how even the most ardent Trumpist can possibly tolerate the open, obvious lying and self-contradiction that's been coming from the White House for the last week.
What is it with you guys and gals? Do you just not see the lying? Are you so sure that Trump's so right about everything that it's okay? Do you just figure everybody does it, so who cares, it's a war? Is it that you buy the idea that Trump's doing God's work, so who cares, it's a war? Do you honestly, truly believe in the loopy Deep State stuff, and figure that the news media, the FBI, the civil service, the CIA, the Illuminati, the Elders of Zion, are just making this stuff up?
I get the drain the swamp bit, though wow, did you ever pick the wrong guy for that. I get the different take on whether it matters. But this refusal to recognize obvious lying and craziness...
12
The fish rots from the head. Throw them all out of the White House.
6
The White House claims that the FBI may have finished their report, but the ace detectives in the White House hadn't finished their much-more-thorough investigation. Given that the White House investigation involves only two questions: "Who'd you vote for?" and "We have an understanding, right? A loyalty thing?"... it's hard to see why it's taking so long. Anyway, good to know that the White House has a better vetting unit than the FBI because otherwise a bunch of liars, grifters, self-dealers and Russia suck-ups could sneak into the White House. That would be bad.
9
Extreme vetting should apply most to the people inside the operation. Doesn’t seem to be the case here.
4
My mother raised me to never wish anything bad to happen to someone lest that wish befall myself. I do not allow myself to think in that direction and always hope for the best. As a domestic violence survivor, I am sickened by these events and all of the attempts to eliminate those people and programs that help and can offer guidance and support. Victims and other people who are struggling are being tromped on and seem to be the going rage for a large segment of society that has now brought the evil right into the oval office. I am ashamed that I know some of these people who brush these things as well as excusing rapists, molesters, and sexual assaulters. What an ugly underbelly of selfish, lying, America is now leaning towards. Do they have a who can behave worse in this administration pool going on? I guess that's why they go there, they have blackened their hearts and now is all fun and games to see who will suffer worse at their hands. Horrible and disgusting.
4
Anyone imploring Trump to support the abused is delusional. Stop hanging on to pipe dreams. He is not That Guy.
3
The sad reality is Trump couldn't get security clearance if he weren't President. Hard to imagine that he would care that his aides can't.
9
WHY is this administration preternaturally disposed to lying about EVERYTHING? EVERYTHING. Stuff no one even CARES ABOUT, they have to lie about.
When will the country be rid of the pestilence of Trump and his minions that is currently holding our democracy in sway?
3
How to identify a psychopath; check off the list and see if anyone you know fits the category:
“According to The American Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, individuals with narcissistic personality disorder (informally known as megalomania) have most or all of the following symptoms, typically without commensurate qualities or accomplishments:
1. Grandiosity with expectations of superior treatment from others
2. Fixation on fantasies of power, success, intelligence, attractiveness, etc.; constant search for “more” power
3. Self-perception of being unique, superior and associated with high-status people and institutions
4. Need for constant admiration from others
5. Sense of entitlement to special treatment and to obedience from others
6. Exploitation of others to achieve personal gain
7. Unwillingness to empathize with others' feelings, wishes, or needs; and disdain for others
8. Intense envy of others, and belief that others are equally envious of them
9. Pompous and arrogant demeanor
10. Fragile egos, inability to tolerate criticism, and tendency to belittle others in an attempt to validate own superiority.”
So is Sarah Huckabee Sanders going to come back out before the press and correct the "story" she told?
I'm not going to hold my breath.
2
From what I understand, many police domestic violence experts now use the presence of choking in the abuse as an indicator of whether the abuse might progress to homicide once the victim attempts to leave the relationship.
Statistically, they say that choking is the one act of abuse that best predicts whether the abuse could lead to murder.
And I read that choking is included in the allegations against Porter by his ex.
So this is very bad. He could be a pretty dangerous guy and it appalls me that now we have a White House that claims to be pro-law enforcement that is not really clear on what law enforcement experts have to say on this subject.
4
How can such an undisciplined and amateur white house claim they have the knowledge and skill to evaluate the perfomance of the FBI. Trump and his self-serving party are simply unfit.
2
Does anyone actually think that Trump or any of the other "real men" that work in the white house care about something as insignificant as spousal abuse? Just look at who they send out to shill for them in public. None other that Sarah Huckabee Sanders. I don't know how that woman can sleep at night.
What is really troubling here is that so many people are working in the white house without proper security clearances.
4
People are saying Sarah Huckabee Sanders lied. We don't know, but it could be true. I mean yeah, I guess. Why not? Why not call it lying?
42
The White House is hopelessly entangled in lies and half-truths. They know no other way.
45
Apparently the Trump Lying Disease (TLD) has infected the entire White House.
Maybe the CDC should study this – oh wait: Trump is cutting their budget and the CDC director was forced to resign a few weeks ago because she has been trading in tobacco stocks.
44
The utter lack of any integrity in this administration is so exhausting! Still. I choose to remain the optimist! Mueller, can you hear me? Mueller, can your hear me?
61
Why are you not educating and informing about violence against women - statistics, causes, a debate about what to do about it instead of the focus on security clearances? Ruthann Miller
8
Because national security is an important issue.
2
So is domestic violence and the lack of condemnation of it from the President
Prayers for integrity and competence in the White House.
12
NO security clearance and he still got to read classified material in job at the WH? Lock him up! Who let this happen? Lock him up too!
58
Could it be that the White House crew is not telling the exact, precise truth?
22
I'm frankly surprised that anyone would even comment on Trump's lack of condemnation of physical and/or sexual abusers. By which I certainly don't imply that Trump is an abuser - that would be fake news anyway. But he consistently says nothing when he should speak out, or suggests that the perpetrator is being unfairly treated, and regrettably fails to be silent when he should (like at 3AM, armed with junk food and an iPhone).
Elect a clown, expect a circus.
35
As Trump always says, "disgusting."
10
This administration believes that morals are for little people.
36
The WH just lies, knowing it’ll be caught, and having no shame about that, just lies again. First lie, then lie about the lie, and lie again.
40
The WH shows again that it not only has no common sense, but lies straight out knowing they’ll be caught. How come? Because they don’t care if they’re caught out and look like snakes. So what?!??
25
The white house can't keep up with their lies - surprise, surprise
SHS scrambling to explain the Porter incident was just plain pathetic.
29
A bunch of molesters, wife beaters, cheaters and liers, without security clearance are running our country and have access to important things they should not have.
39
Donald Trump, the Harasser Supreme, has surrounded himself with other moral delinquents of like ilk. The entire White House should be fumigated. IMPEACHMENT NOW!
34
Nytimes - Please FOIA request information about the clearance status of everyone in the White House.
50
Why does someone like Rob Porter get to keep his job after he has been exposed for doing something so wrong?
12
I'm not sure how much more of the mendacious, kleptocratic dismantling of our cherished democracy I can stand to watch. Trump and his coterie have enough collective DSM-5 numbers to win the powerball lottery on pure odds.
85
So. . . this is what comes from "running the government as a business"?
Hey – no biggie: just declare bankruptcy and move on.
114
The core issue (among a slew of bad behaviors) is security. Porter is handling the highest levels of classified information and is susceptible to blackmail, arrest, etc. Same for Kushner. Same for Trump, for that matter. Security can never be knowingly compromised for any reason under any circumstances. We have enough enemies without the White House occupants joining in, Unbelievable. Clean house, top to bottom!
77
The presence of choking in the list of abuse allegations means that Rob Porter would be considered by many domestic violence experts to be at a high risk for escalating the abuse to homicide. Imagine the security risk and risk to our national psyche there.
2
As someone caught in the horror of domestic abuse as I witnessed it between my father and first stepmother when I was a small boy I know firsthand the horror of living in such a war zone. Yes, it indeed feels like a war zone.
Trump is truly pathological and needs to be peacefully removed from office. Then oust the sanctimonious Pence. Fire Paul Ryan. Get Mitch McConnell out of the Senate. Remove all the GOP enablers who are derelict in their duties to serve this country and honor the Constitution.
But do not stop there. Oust Betsy DeVos, Mulvaney, Sarah Sanders, Kushner, the Trump brat boys Eric and Don Jr. And keep going. Remove everyone who looks flippantly upon Russian interference, domestic abuse, the waste of building a wall, the evil of deporting people who came here as children when they had no choice, the politicization of our intelligence community and our willing withdrawal from international collaboration to do anything whatsoever about climate change.
This administration is the greatest abomination in the history of this nation. Period.
194
Although extreme partisans on both ends of the political spectrum may deny this, most Americans will actually support someone who is in the public eye and struggling with personal issues, if...IF...they are truthful and sincere in both admitting to the issue, and in actually being able to apologize...again in a truthful manner, not in an ambiguous, continual cover-up or denial manner. This administration is simply too corrupt, mentally and morally, to do so; there are just an astounding number of lies and cover-ups...no other administration as far as I can tell has been so openly and narcissistically untruthful to the American (and global) public. This simply cannot continue, but the rot is so pervasive I am not sure how we can shovel our way out; Pence, Ryan, Sessions, all the way through this GOP swamp is involved and not just to a lesser degree...they all lie and obfuscate equally.
60
Let's talk about what's important, Federal government approving a warrant to spy on another political campaign, which makes Watergate look like small potatoes!
5
They got a warrant based on the belief and credible evidence that someone in the campaign was communicating with a hostile foreign power about working for their interests in our government!
2
Wrong. Watergate was inherently illegal: breaking into the offices of the Democratic National Committee. What you're talking about is a FISA warrant on a guy who was already on the radar for his contacts with Russian spies. A FISA warrant issued through the normal channels, subject to all the procedures designed to prevent abuses. And the Republican controlled Congress just re-authorized FISA with exactly the same procedures!
Love to hear your explanation of that!
And what harm to the Trump campaign are you claiming from their being "spied on"?
You give new meaning to the term "out to lunch"!
4
Based on the inability of his staff to get security clearances, Donald Trump might want to spend time on White House security before he goes to build his billion dollar security wall. Of course, when you are busy running your business empire you really don't have time for such mundane activities as protecting the nation's secrets.
73
Interesting I have had security clearances in the past, but it seems if you work for Trump or Kelly and handle top secret and eyes only classified material every day none required. You would think with the Russian investigations and today the intell and security directors talking about Russian hacking starting and the fact that the push to release the Nunes memo on all those sites were from Russian operatives - the President would care. In reality Trump does not seem to care and pardon me to imply how many of these people are "fellow travelers" or Russian dupes - I will say dupes to go easy. It will get interesting when Trump starts his war with Iran and then we will see how that shakes out since his friend Putin backs the other side. Just amazing like living in a fantasyland or maybe like Trump on a fake reality tv show. The American public should start being concerned about what he says and pushes since it will be their sons and daughters getting killed in the next war for a President whose loyalty is in question. Jim Trautman
26
This is a White House that has zero regard for the security of the USA and no impulse to protect us from our enemies, at home and abroad. The evidence for that is Donald Trump's refusal to acknowledge the Russian interference in our elections and to carry out the law passed by an overwhelming majority of the senate to impose new sanctions on Russia for that interference. His talk of security for our borders is only red meat to throw out to his rabid followers. Republican leaders for the most part are afraid of that mad crowd and because they do not want to displease them and have Trump throw them to those dogs next, they have abandoned their role as a separate power as envisioned and written into the Constitution to defend and protect the Republic and the Constitution. God help us. And elect a new House in 2018.
39
May we rethink the archaic Electoral College now, or is it STILL too soon? One person; one vote.
75
It is unconscionable that someone in this position would be allowed to work without a full security clearance. We are so far from normal I don't even know where to begin...
64
The end is now in sight for those who have not been gaslighted. Remember the outrage over Clinton's "extremely careless" handling of classified information via insecure email? Between the delayed firing of Flynn, the disclosure of secret information directly to the Russians in the oval office and now the obvious abuse of interim clearances we now have clear evidence of "gross negligence" in the Trump administration. Collusion, obstruction, security violations and failure to defend the country from our enemies. How much more do we need to impeach ... Putin?
56
Are we reaching a point where this IS actually normal?
Let’s change the mantra: This is not okay.
40
this reminds me of the Iran-Contra affair; it just wasn't possible that President Reagan knew anything about it.
18
“And when you’re a star they let you do it. You can do anything. Grab ‘me by the p***y. You can do anything. “
Donald Trump
Now we know that not only does trump hire ‘the best people ever,’ he confirms star status on them, too.
29
The WH spokespeople keep talking about the security personnel office like it's not a part of the executive branch and they're not responsible for it. For pete's sake, one of Kelky's deputies runs the darn thing! If the FBI gave the personnel office its final background investigation into Porter in November, and he did not "pass" as is being reported, what the heck was the personnel office doing for two and a half months? Shouldn't there be a deadline by which the personnel office must act once the FBI is done with its investigation? Isn't there a way to revoke temporary top-secret clearances once serious red flags come up? Shouldn't such revocation be mandatory? Isn't anyone tracking and following up on this stuff and regularly briefing Kelly?
The incompetence of this administration is mind-blowing!
65
I wrote a comment early tonight. But then it came out that Porter was being considered for a promotion. This struck me as insane. Not the story; I believe the story. The administration was insane for even thinking about a promotion. The White House knew he’d never get a security clearance. How could they justify thinking about promoting him? In his then current job, he saw every memo of varying secrecy that the President saw. Maybe more if Trump didn’t read some of them. Why are they lying so much about this charade? I mean after the FBI head said the investigation was completed last July, Sanders continued to lie. Forget for the moment that Sanders never should knowingly lie EVER.
Is there some more sinister going on here? The White House is sure acting like it is. I hope not but we need to find out if there is. Go journalists, go!
83
Kelly said the Porter's case "was all done right." From what is known now we can say Kelly himself is all done wrong.
47
As if Sarah Huckabee Sanders is the beacon of truth.
Again and again and again Trump and his minions have shown no interest in addressing those members of their team, Trump included, who have been accused of any type of assault against women. I guess this has nothing to do with Ivanka's interest in empowering women either.
28
Sarah Sanders is morphing into Sean Spicer.
It is creepy but so hilarious I just can't look away.
Mr. Kelly, claiming to have "fired the guy within 40 minutes" of learning about the allegations, that certainly sounds like an empty barrel to me.
54
Liars. Mendacious liars, the lot of 'em.
And stupid liars to boot.
51
Why does this WH keep insulting our intelligence by telling us lie after lie? This is really sick folks. I know the Trump supporters find it painful for their boy to be exposed for what he is, but I hope that at some point a sense of honor and truth means something to them.
40
Trump supporters find none of this painful. It is just Trump being Trump on the way to MAGA. Honor and truth are foreign concepts to his supporters.
2
Sheer, bombastic hubris - that is what 45 and his accomplices have unleashed. They have unlocked and flaunted the shadow side of the USA. The self-righteous indignation that they fling at others as they wantonly defile the Constitution is nauseating. I expect more of the same, with Republicans of all stripes aiding and abetting this disturbing disease upon our country.
35
Chris Wray just told the truth. Maybe Devin Nuñez will be the next FBI Director.
18
Nothing they do comes as a surprise at this point. This administration should never again be given the benefit of the doubt.
33
I remember the clown car cartons during the primary season in 2016. It was funny, but also sad. This is worse, migraine worthy worse. And the car is seemingly being driven as a drone by some Russian hackers...
And folks voted for this “to change things up”. Well, this country is suffering from shaken baby syndrome. That certainly is a change, alright.
19
Why do we have officials who don't have security clearance handling sensitive security matters? BTW ... does anyone know if Trump has received security clearance?
14
Another day, another lie. At least they're consistent and dependable.
17
Maybe, just maybe John Kelly needs to get off his lazy as and resign.
43
The truth is, the Trump WH does not care if its employees are wife beaters or not (or for that matter child molesters, etc.). After all, if the WH were to set ethical or moral standards for employment, Trump would be the first to have to go.
55
Trump and Kelly admit no wrong because they are infallible. They're also a disgrace to their country and an embarrassment.
26
Laws, regulations, and morals don't apply to the super rich and powerful.
21
The whole administration is amateur hour. And why are they dating each other?! Any decent HR department would fire the lot of them.
41
Why is it that this White House, our government's most sacred house, is nothing more than a sad soap opera. Our first President is turning over in his grave!
19
The Trump administration is incompetent and unethical, to say it politely. It is time for Republican Americans to join the rest of their country in admitting that.
43
Hey Sean Hannity....Staff in the White House privy to top secret information WITHOUT A PROPER SECURITY CLEARANCE!!!
Your thoughts? Gee, if this a Democratic president your head would have exploded by now!
The NY Times ran an article a few weeks ago about the thing the GOP "tolerates" now that was in tolerable 18 months ago!! Amazing and infuriating!!
51
Porter gave his word he wasn't going to comment--then offered the explanation, after one week, that the injury was because of an argument about a vase. It's very inspirational, but not in a good way.
8
If you can't trust Rob Porter, or Donald Trump, or Sarah Sanders--who's left?
9
Not Accurate. You can trust Sarah Sanders to say whatever she is told to say, no matter how obviously untrue it may be.
29
Blame who you want but there’s no doubt the decision to retain Porter came from the top. Kelly and the other sycophants are simply enablers-in-chief.
19
And the lies just keep flowing out of the White House.
10
Who would the White House have to employ if they let a little thing like security clearance get in the way. In case you have not noticed the White House has a really, really hard time hiring competent people that can pass the security clearance tests.
The Flynn and Portman types are much easier to hire as no one else would employ them given their problems.
14
Despite Rob Porter's sordid lifestyle, it's likely that Robert Mueller just found another highly motivated flipper.
16
It seems that Trump surrounds himself with the worst people — a collection of grifters, liars, swindlers, resume padders, domestic abusers, traitors. He is in heaven... so he can make them do whatever he wants... Sorry I forgot Russians spies
26
Trump can't shine a light on abused women in cases like this simply because it would be absorbed into Trump like light entering a black hole.
15
Kelly is turning out to be the second biggest embarrassment to our country in the White House.
37
I think the fact that he came with such high hopes makes it even worst. He is a really bad example for our military and what it takes to become a four star general.
17
The real scandal here is that spousal abuse by an individual is treated as a serious crime, if it is reported and charged. Yet apparently all the bald-faced lying, obfuscation and cover-up attempts at the highest levels of our government is merely a series of political embarrassments, and there are no formal charges even being discussed.
Granted, politicians lie and obfuscate. Sometimes that's justifiable, especially when grave matters of national security are involved. But this situation is the exact opposite of those circumstances. The administration's serial deceptions are clearly based on the belief that official security clearances and protocols don't really matter. Evidently, all that matters is Capo Trump's judgment that someone is "a good guy."
If the White House had acknowledged that they knew about the abuse, but argued that it was not a disqualifying issue on its own, that would be one thing. It's the complete contempt for formal security procedures that they have shown that is most disgraceful of all. This article doesn't even mention the provisional status of Jared Kushner's access to classified material, nor remind us of his attempt to evade our own intelligence agencies by setting up a secret back channel of communication with Russia within *their* embassy.
Once the dust has settled and the rubble of the Trump regime has been cleared away, we need to find ways to make sure that this kind of outrageous abuse of public trust is never tolerated again.
18
He shouldn’t have been allowed security clearance until the investigation was complete. Did I miss the part where the F.B.I interviewed Rob? seems like another set up for failure caused by nonsense timelines and helping someone along. This is all just seems like such a waste of our time.
4
Does anyone care about survivors of domestic violence having to deal with this past year or two of ‘news.’
Can anyone in charge please stop lying for one day??? Abuse survivors are lied to all the time. Please just stop lying.
I am 62 and feel like I did as a child of sexual abuse. I feel raped again. I feel as beat up as when my father struck me in my teens.
I feel beat up as when a bride and young mother.
I don’t know if I am supposed to accept the current abuse by this administration and just suffer, or resist and feel punched by the lying.
I see republicans only care about money and power.
Can they maybe care about abuse for once? I guess not; they are the abusers.
48
Lies lies lies. The new reality show brought to you by the White House. And I mean “white” house.
12
After the FBI delivered its final report on Mr. Porter, the White House personnel office/security office had to analyze the information gathered on Mr. Porter, and determine from the information if Mr. Porter was worthy to have a complete clearance. The clearance process was in the adjudication process. This can be a very time consuming and tedious process, as certain issues have to be reinvestigated to establish the absolute truth. Absolute truth must be established before a full clearance can be granted because national security is at stake. The security of the nation! What is more important than that? On NPR this evening, I heard that the information about Mr. Porter "beating" his ex-wives was published by a British tabloid. How did the Daily Mill mail get this information? Obviously, it was leaked. In fact, this information is classified itself! As it contains sources and methods. As long as the investigation and adjudication process was on-going, this information was classified and not supposed to be released to the public! Who knows how long it would have taken the WH to ultimately decide if Mr. Porter was worthy to hold a security clearance, to have access to the secrets. And it can take even longer if the person under scrutiny is wanted by the agency to do the job, as was Mr. Porter. In short, had this information not been leaked and made national news, Mr. Porter would still be employed at the White House. That is how it works in Washington. Thank you.
3
Glad you cleared that up.
11
I have a question for Hope Hicks; Why would you date a man who has been physically and psychologically abusive to his 2 former wives??
51
Well, the fact that Hope Hicks works for trump does reveal that she is a glutton for punishment..
21
I have an answer for Anne in London: because Hope Hicks is foolish and in love and can't imagine that the charges against Porter could possibly be true.
15
Answer : because I am clueless about anything. Remember I did said "Hi" in one of the campaign rallies of 2016. I chose not to elaborate on that "Hi".
5
Trump continues his long history of Ignoring, skirting, and subverting our government's norms, customs and laws. And he makes sure that it is those around him who take the fall for his dirty deeds.
It's amazing anyone is willing to be in the same room with him.
29
Where else would the parasites and sycophants find such rewarding roles?
1
Truely a well done piece. The first big fail was allowing Porter to continue (and be promoted). The next big fail was the weasel way they tried to lessen the damage by lying; thus making it worse. The lying is eating this country like a cancer.
37
"Career officials"? It sounds to me like a dogwhistle for the Deep State conspiracy folks. She is clearly trying to discredit the FBI here.
22
More lies from they lying liars at the WH. They all knew and didn't care, now its all up to the spin doctors who will try to make us believe day is really night, and up is really down.
16
Birds of a feather flock together.
Mighty strange birds in the White House.
18
If I were Ms. Sanders, I would want to go through a decontamination shower at the end of each work day.
43
Not realistic because the boss hasn't done that from Day One. It may stink the place up but they are all used to it by now. That is why the blowflies and parasites are attracted to the place.
10
Porter was not given a full security clearance but was permitted to review the most sensitive and classified information. Kushner has not been given a full security clearance but he also is permitted to read the most sensitive and classified information including the President's Daily Briefing which Trump is too lazy to read. For all the big talk by Trump about how he is so committed to national security, he is permitting people to read highly classified intelligence though the FBI investigations have raised red flags and prevented the necessary security clearance. What do we call someone who gives away highly classified information to people not authorized to see it: a traitor.
70
One of these days, Sara will be thrown under the bus. I bet she knows it.
15
Poor bus.
20
se has crawled there of her own accord
14
First, Ron Porter is a good Mormon. The NYT is acting in an insensitive and discriminatory manner when it criticizes Ron Porter.
Second, Ron Porter is a gentleman. I am confident he will treat Hope Hicks in the manner she deserves.
2
You must be in denial.
10
His name is Rob. If you don't know his name how can you know if he is even Mormon. LDS church has a big black eye here for not reporting the abuse. Disgraceful.
17
Kidding, right?
10
trump is worried only about whether this will touch him directly. He hasn't spoken about it since his praise of Porter, and sends spokespeople to make contradictory statements that don't hold up. No matter who he has lie on his behalf, he owns this. And if he wonders how it is playing, I suggest he read the 'fake news' in every reputable paper. He and his administration are a laughingstock, an embarrassment, and a national disgrace.
64
Oh my, does this mean there might be a liar in the White House somewhere?
15
The reason this happened is that the Trump administration (Kelly, etcetera, and the President) did not think that beating up women was a reason to deny someone security clearance. His behavior falls into what they consider normal. They truly don't understand what the fuss is about. That is, they understand that there is political fallout, but they rightly assume it will blow over: what does how a man treats women have anything to do with anything? That's there thinking.
But, there's one person close to Trump who knew for sure about those allegations, and that's Hope Hicks. Because if she was dating him (words do not describe....) what he did was complain about his ex-wives. Because that's what guys like him do. So she knew. And she didn't acquit herself responsibly. And she needs to resign, too.
Maybe Kushner's dad can send her one of those sex-tapes he's famous for. Then we'll truly be in t.v. soap land. As if we weren't already.
54
And, it's really disgraceful for the LDS church to automatically side with the man and dismiss these women's allegations when they went to their Bishops for help. Why even go to these lay-people who have no accountability. In the mormon church it's all about the superiority of men and woman must be second class submissive servants. It's pretty terrible. Would they even stop a murder if a women came and warned them or are women just a commodity or possession not worth protecting if God forbid it interferes with a man's pursuits or perversion.
12
Security clearance?
The biggest irony ?
Trump would never get it if he had a management job in govt.
See, you have to release your tax returns first.
(what's he hiding?)
81
I totally agree that Porter's background should have been addressed earlier and he shouldn't have been working in a position with access to classified information without a permanent security clearance, but really, NYT?? Why would you give ANY coverage to what Anthony Scaramucci says? Who cares? He is clearly a lowlife with zero credibility and his 10 days as communication director do not warrant him ever being quoted in a NYT article. You lower your standards by quoting him.
20
If lying were grounds for impeachment, Trump would have been impeached 100s of times by now. Unfortunately, the constitution [so far] makes no provision for impeachment on these grounds.
However...
In the case of Trump's fellow ethically challenged oafs and louts still employed as part his administration, I can count on at least two hands the number of them who should be censured, banished, and ultimately dumped in a maximum security timeout room with their lying peers, Flynn, Bannon, Papadopoulos, et al.
18
This administration spend so much time and energy pretzeling themselves to explain all their lies and crimes that it behooves them to just clear the table and admit to us what we already know:
"Yeah, we are a bunch of monumental incompetent near-criminals who are trying our hardest to run your country into the ground."
This way we all can skip all these painful press conference where they pretend they are actual ethical human beings.
32
Near criminals? I think you may be being too kind...
9
Yes, we are doing this destruction by our own volition. We have a secret back ( or black ) channel to the Kremlin and Putin is telling us what to do. If you think you can unpack this conspiracy he and his minions will hack into the whole trial or impeachment processes and nothing will come of it. We got all our guarantees and all our bases covered. You see, in certain other countries the military will step in and stop this madness. Or the people will protest en masse, going on a massive general strike, blocking traffic and tarmac and calling for a fresh election. But, don't forget, we are a democracy and no such extra-constitutional actions are permissible here, in these the United States of America.
2
Ol' Sarah is looking worse and worse. Bless her heart.
17
What she says and does is despicable, but don't criticize her appearance. That's quite juvenile.
6
Trump should resign. It is that simple.
21
Does the truth mean anything? Or does the president’s statement that porter denied it carry sufficient weight to cancel the truth? Each day is worse than the last. Dreading tomorrow.
19
Tough to see a problem when the mirror is so close to the face.
5
Trump base still scratching its collective scalp at all the hoopla...
13
Is that the same scalp for which Trump underwent reduction surgery so he could hide his vanishing hairline? I bet scratching it would hurt -- and worse still, it would muss up that puffy confection that he would call hair and we call both a national embarrassment and a great object to ridicule.
8
I just watched Sanders a day or two ago, in front of the press, create a bubble around the pristine White House and pronounce that everything to do with security clearances comes from authorities outside and independent of it. She said clearance decisions today are handled by outside agencies exactly as they have been for decades by previous administrations. Not us, the WH says.
But it is the Trump house, with its so-called security office, that receives, perverts and ignores intelligence findings on "very fine people" like the abuser Porter and liar Kushner. It is the WH that waves the wand over favored staff to carry on indefinitely with an interim "clearance." And it is the WH that determines who can handle what top secret documents and data, just like Porter and Kushner have. In the Trump era, security clearances are pretzels to twist to the tastes of the Kellys and Trumps. These are the same people who want to lock up Clinton for some emails, while they themselves have systematized the process of breaking security protocols into a daily routine. Shoulders shrugged.
This perfidy has created a perfect storm: Invaders from Russia have long fished for our nation's most critical secrets even as today's White House sets the table for them -- hiring people whose personal secrets make them most open to compromise and extortion. At the head sits the man with the utmost to hide. And he himself, at a very public rally in a very loud voice, invited Putin to dig in.
25
This White House and the Trump Administration lack morality, ethics, and even a smidgeon of decency. How can Trump say his aide insisted he’s innocent, when we have evidence like pictures and legal protection documents and on camera testimony of two ex-wives? This isn’t a case of “he said, she said”. This is a case of hard evidence behind the FBI’s refusal to grant a permanent security clearance.
The Trump Presidency is flawed. And Congress is looking the other way.
26
It is not evident that the WH knew about Porter even in July... November... January... next March...
4
Many are aghast at how often the White House, from Sarah Sanders to President Trump himself, lie, seemingly pathologically. They cannot stop, even when the stories they tell can be verified as false so quickly and easily. Sanders, for her part, had to know that when Director Wray testified, he would contradict her timeline of the Porter saga.
But one must understand that the objective here is more insidious than merely covering for clear incompetence. The real goal is to so muddy our appreciation of the FBI, CIA, the media, really everyone, that the White House story, fascinating as it might be, can plausibly be presented as a credible narrative. Who knows what the truth is, so any given story could be true. Once we have been sufficiently desensitized, disengaged, Trump and his toadies can roll out anything they want.
This gas lighting might be part of a larger plot to discredit Robert Mueller's investigation or just done as a general attempt to control information. Either way, the process benefits Trump. Already 30 plus percent of voters, almost 80% of the GOP, will believe anything he says. That firewall protects him from impeachment and certainly conviction. His plot is cynically brilliant.
35
Glad somebody noticed. Far more insidious indeed, and truly worrisome!
5
Our White House has an infestation of liars. One third of the country has sold their souls to the devil and don't care.
42
They sold their souls, and got nothing in return. Bad deal they made, but the whole country is paying the price. I only hope our wonderful country can survive.
24
The total 71 years of President Trump's life is all the proof you need of his complete love of self and disregard for human values and relationships between men & women. He has a 71year record and today some people are still not aware that he has no real leadership ability or understanding how American government works. The USA and the world will move forward in the long run but this is a setback. His family will end up with much less financial security
24
You mean the family will not end up in jail ?
1
The foul and unpleasant odor permeates this administration from the top down with very few exceptions. One resorts in the final analysis to understatement.
12
The prosecution, and conviction, of David Petraeus for sharing classified information with someone set a precedence that must be followed.
Everyone who allowed Porter to access classified information should receive the same treatment.
And the use of interim clearances needs to be stopped. If you're not cleared, you're not cleared. All the more reason not to forget things (cough) lie on your SF-86. Seeing how morality will never be an issue with this crowd, maybe they could tell the truth for practical reasons.
35
Well said Susan.
9
"With questions still swirling about who knew what and when, spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders repeatedly told reporters that the 'president and the entire administration take domestic violence very seriously and believe all allegations need to be investigated thoroughly.' " (AP, 13Feb2018) And she said it with a straight face. "Amazing how she doesn't even flinch when she has to say these incredibly absurd things ... " (Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, New Jersey)
17
I'm curious...did Trump have to pass a security clearance or is being elected enough?
17
Yes, and being 35 years of age or over, and born in the USA. That’s why the miscreant accused Obama of not being born in the USA. To deligitimize Obama’s presidency.
13
I'll wager a bundle that the FBI is settling some scores. They were furious that the White House had not only buried the negative report on Porter but was in fact planning to promote him. By exposing Porter's wifebeating, they have also snared Kelly and McGahn. J. Edgar Hoover would be proud.
18
spoken like a true Fox news viewer. Ignoring the hideous nature
of the behavior and focusing on their own disastrous and inept levle
of performance.
4
Not a Fox viewer. What are you nattering about?
6
@harold: You’re probably right. After all, Sanders was already laying the groundwork for blaming the whole situation on the FBI by claiming they didn’t not inform the WH. It kind of reminds me when the WH tried to pin Comey’s firing on Rosenstein. He didn’t care for that either (not to mention that Trump finally admitted he was going to fire Comey over Russia regardless of any report).
4
Inept, incompetent (ethically, morally and otherwise) amateurs. What else did you expect?
21
While this incident is further evidence of the moral bankruptcy of this administration, it is only a sideshow to the main event: proving Trump guilty of colluding with Russia, then convicting and executing him for treason as he deserves.
Keep the eyes on what's important so that justice is done, and our Traitor-in-Chief given the ultimate punishment for his crimes.
22
Technically, as we have seen before, it isn't over till trump SAYS it's over. So maybe Shah was just following that protocol.
5
Er … and after learning of issues in July about Mr. Porter officials in the WH still kept Porter on and in the loop? I’m not buying any of this story. Porter should have been gone at the first blush of scandal. And, given Porter is a person with a history of domestic violence it shows the WH even more unhinged than previously thought. When will the bad news stop?
34
The emperor has no clothes... still.
5
If it looks like a duck and it quacks like a duck how is that millions of Americans still believe that it is a swan?
15
It goes without saying that the White House lied.
8
The White House is a house of lies. The attacks will get far more vicious, if you can believe it, far far more vicious, once Trump is charged. And in the end he will try to pardon himself; nothing is beneath him as he will do anything to clear himself of his felonies, even if he has to bring down the curtain on our republic.
9
This is getting complicated. I think I'll try and figure this out tomorrow when the WH gives us a new set of lies to work on.
15
Most astonishing to me, time after time, incident after incident, is that these people do not hesitate to tell the most bald-faced lies even in the certain knowledge that they will be convincingly exposed — sometimes within the same day's news cycle.
Americans have suffered White House liars in the past, but never any so carefree and reckless. This crowd seems beyond embarrassment. It is as if they believe there will be no consequences, no retribution, for their egregious falsehoods.
15
Trump, Kelly, and Huckabee Sanders are un-American. As far as Trump is concerned, all women lie, especially women who accuse him and other Republicans. I can no longer call Kelly a former Marine due to the selling of his soul to work for Trump. He protects wife beaters. He is now an ex-Marine. And if Huckabee Sanders told me the sky was blue, I would have to go outside and check for myself. She'll have to answer to her God about all the lies she tells on a daily basis.
19
" It has raised questions about the credibility of President Trump’s most senior advisers, "
Raised? Raised? I think this word doesn't mean what you think it means. Mr.Trumps senior advisers include any number of people who have not had any credibility, ever.
11
To be clear, we are talking about the staff secretary - the person in charge of determining which documents the president sees (including the most sensitive and secret documents in government - who wasn’t able to receive a security clearance because he was deemed by the FBI to be vulnerable to being blackmailed. The amateurism of the Trump White House would be laughable if it wasn’t such a clear and present danger to our country.
20
NYT: "It has raised questions about the credibility of President Trump’s most senior advisers…"
Me: Like do they have any?
Huckabee Sanders: “It’s up to those same law enforcement and intelligence agencies to determine if changes need to be made to their process,”
Me: Yeah, maybe they should report ONLY to Administration staff that have credibility, if any can be found.
9
The Times unfortunately will keep saying this as they have no other way to discuss the utter lack of truth from this administration. When will the Times come up with a new way to address blatant liars? They cannot be trusted and the Times is complicit in making them credible when they are not.
3
Ah, the White House Staff: A Confederacy of Dunces if ever there was one.
20
At what point will the Republicans notice the almost 100% correlation between some epic positive republican policy announcement and the Trump distraction. One example, in the lobby of Trump Tower, an articulate Trump with a great visual told the story of over regulation hindering economic development. And then, walking off stage, came his “good people on both sides” Charlottesville comment. Tax reform, domestic abuse. And on and on. Every Republican legislative high point has been yanked down by their President.
In anything other than an “Alice in Trump land” world this would be a concern.
5
The enemies of the nation whomever they are know a lot about how to prod Trump and Company to do their bidding. This is becoming clear day in and day out. That trump would consort with Mob figures when he was in the building real estate deals is one thing, but he also will consort with the nations of the world if he sees dollar signs. He couldn't scream at the Police and intel agencies enough during the campaign and just got worse and worse about it as time went on. He is acting like he wants to be King, or a dictator, Never being someone we should trust for that office he holds. It is as if we elected our country's worse enemy and let him dismantle the nation.
He hates anyone poorer than himself, Hates anyone not his own gender or skin color. He is not serving the nation but is own greed.
High time to make him a one term has been.
14
Forget the hope that Trump will be a one-term has been. With a turn in our national fortunes, he'll drop well before the finish line, never to arise. I like this: "It is as if we elected our country's own worse enemy and let him dismantle the nation." To the degree that he is indeed his own biggest barrier to achieving his dreams and ascending to the throne, we've got a highly dependable friend on our side. We couldn't be luckier because we need deliverance now like we've never before and he so yearns to please.
4
Remarkable how quickly outright and blatant lies have become the new normal for this WH. When Obama was untruthful, intentionally or not (If you like your doctor you can keep him etc) we were shocked. Now, we would be just as shocked to hear honesty from this WH when they make a mistake.
9
What has anyone in this White House done since arriving there under this president to foster belief in their words? Flynn, Kushner, Kelly, Spicer, Mucch, Sessions, Mnunchin , Sara Sanders etc. any one of his appointees have all been caught up in lies, double talk, etc. And yes, the number 1 liar of all time - Trump. We cannot rely on the liars to do anything. They are the problem. That's like asking the fox to take care of the chickens.
7
Yet another act in the three ring circus of a Whitehouse. No one should be surprised with Trump the Ring Leader's history of abuse of women. Ryan, and his GOP company continue to look the other way.
6
The media have been reporting as fact that Porter had been operating under a temporary security clearance. Did they just assume that? Clearly it was not true.
Yeah? Care to share your sources?
6
If you had listened to the Senate Intelligence Committee haring to day you would have heard unanimous agreement by our top security leaders that he WAS working with an interim clearance.
6
Question - who grants a clearance? Who grants a "temporary security clearance?" My understanding is that the FBI did not give him a security clearance. So the White house did? Or the white house allowed him to act in a temporary manner as though he did have a clearance even though he did not?
Something tells me that the WH and Kelly are up to their britches in breeches.
11
What's astonishing to me is the disrespect this administration--top to bottom--shows to the press and the American people. Do they honestly think this kind of lie will never be uncovered? Do they really think we're this stupid, and that no one in government will never tell the truth?
13
Jim, they do not care about the press, or you and I for that matter. Trump is the Emperor (in his mind) and THAT is extremely dangerous. Congress must act. Unfortunately, it would be best if the Republican majority acted, but they won’t. If the Democrats regain the House, their hands will be tied since any action they might take to unload Trump will be viewed as partisan.
It’s going to be up to you and me in 2020.
11
Donald Trump is unfit to hold any public office. Always has been. Throughout his life, the only people who have really befriended him have been jerks, creeps and cons. Like him. That was of no concern when he was a private citizen, but now that he is POTUS, its a real problem, and it has gotten worse since he has attracted a lot of sycophantes, a lot of them, from Mike Pence on down.
To Donald Trump, beating a wife, abusing a teenaged girl, groping or otherwise abusing women is not a problem if you are loyal to him and of value, like Rob.
So there you have it. Trump knew. They all knew. But Rob Porter was one of the precious few around the President who had any talent, so the idea was not of firing him but of promoting him. And then, their dirty little secret became public and the scramble to distance the Administration from him began. And here we are.
22
Ho hum. Just add these lies to the steaming, fetid mountain of other lies that have been piling up since the Trump administration began. This will all be overshadowed in a matter of days by the next scandal or series of lies.I think many of us are beginning to reach the same sort of emotional state as victims of chronic abuse, becoming numb and vacant as a way of coping with the onslaught of constant abuse. Thank you sir, may I have another.
14
There is one prerequisite to work in this Whitehouse.
Lie and Lie even when facts prove otherwise!
There are only "alternative facts"in this house of horrors.
The American people have only one choice.
Vote in November and send a clear message that "alternative facts", lying and abusing power will not be tolerated.
Otherwise we have no one to blame but ourselves for allowing this to continue.
7
At least the Intelligence community is doing their job. What's another few lies among Trump and his WH minions? Is lying a pre-requisite for the job in Trump land? Seems so...have we ever heard a word from them based on facts? Trump alone is racking up some 5 lies per day. Keep posting them NYT
10
the icing of the cake (of lies) has to be Sarah don't-heart-me Huckabee Sanders ability not so much to deflect questions as to "reassign" blame - here for the decision to keep Porter on. Obviously, If the Administration has been caught ignoring the reports from the FBI, and the refusal to grant a security clearance --the ONLY inference to be drawn is that those security agencies might need to clean up their act.
Sean Spicer would start to sweat when faced with concocting a mammoth multifaceted lie on behalf of the people upstairs. With Sanders - no such anxiety, no such qualms.
16
You can put lipstick on a pig, but it’s still gonna stick its snout in a trough to revel in the slop.
5
Seems to me that Putin isn't the only one who likes to have kompromat on their employees.
6
Is anyone else alarmed as I am with the comfort level of lying that this administration does? My God, from top on down they're taking gaslighting to new heights! I mean, in this this day and age, it's so easy to check the facts. It doesn't matter. And I'm disturbed the "moral" Christian Right doesn't even bat an eye. My goodness, even when I was a Bill Clinton supporter, I hated and rolled my eyes when he proclaimed, "I smoked but didn't inhale," or, "I did not have sex with that woman." How frightening 40% of our populace are.
14
The question of all-things trump is no longer about truth or lies. It’s about how far his supporters are prepared to go to have their way. It seems no amount of embarrassment, bigotry, straight-up mendacity or risk to the nation itself will deter them from whatever agenda they pursue. Be it race, money, power or religion, they would sooner set themselves alight than disrupt the potus’ steady march to infamy.
14
So far, Trump is still giving his supporters what they think they want. The social program cuts and "work" requirements haven't hit them yet. They don't care about the lies if they get their judges. Only time will tell if they care enough to abandon their hero.
6
It appears that Porter was retained after the first revelations because his job performance had not suffered. So it was in the interest of his employer and of Porter himself that he be retained. Financially, it was interest of his wife and ex-wife as well. So all the parties would have done better off if he had kept his job. His resignation, which was not required, was basically a political act, designed to please those who are committed to job termination even if it is against the interests of all the parties.
Myself, if think if there were a hearing, and everybody involved wanted him to be retained, he should have been retained. While this is a government job, the people don't have the authority to make this decision. That is delegated to his superiors, who clearly wanted him to stay.
And by the way, it should be noted that the blackmail theory doesn't hold water. Everybody knew Porter was an abuser and everybody wanted him to keep his job.
2
Porter keeping his job is not necessarily in the financial interests of his ex-wives at all. Porter's competence doesn't offset the PR hit.
5
Bye bye Mr. Wray. One does not contradict the Dictator!
5
Anything to distract from Congress's widening investigation into the Russiagate shenanigans and the Steele dossier. Porter is godsend.))
3
The American judicial philosophy: The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
The Trump philosophy: Never tell the truth when you can lie.
11
I want to give this administration the benefit of the doubt whenever possible. But I'm beginning to wonder if there really is a concerted effort among some in it to cooperate still with a circle of people closely associated with Mr. Putin. There is just so much going on and it's going on with these guys so often that it certainly doesn't seem that they have the best interests of this country in mind.
6
With apologies to our first president
George Washington: "I cannot tell a lie. I chopped down the cherry tree."
Donald Trump: "I cannot NOT tell a lie. (Double negative)
The cherry tree - that's fake news!"
8
degenerate administration and party
12
Watching Sarah Sanders morph into Sean Spicer is sad to see
(but rather hilarious)
9
See what happens when you publicly diss the FBI. Not too smart.
14
The sneer on Sarah Huckabee Sanders face today was something to behold at the White House press briefing. She displays the entitlement that this White House has received from the Republican Congress, they can do as they please and there will be no retribution.
79
It’s really quite something. The attitude she consistently projects is, “How dare you not accept what I’m telling you and demand the truth?”
13
Everything that Trump and his administration do is tainted with lies.
If America just comes to the realization that we elected, thanks to the Electoral College, a person who a habitual liar and his family is no better.
21
Classic. Make America great again, get back to beating your wives!
29
Domestic abuse of women is an integral part of the patriarchal, traditional, Republican view of women.
12
Porter should be debriefed regarding each and every document he handled, and held to some sort of standard of nondisclosure. After all, he is not the sort of person who should have that information in the first place, because he could not be granted a security clearance.
Oh, and everyone involved should resign and be charged if crimes were committed. I don't care what great guys and gals they are or whether they're like family or how good they are at their jobs.
26
Only Democratic Women get in trouble for security infractions since Trump took over the White House. In fact, Hillary's security issues wouldn't even have merited an infraction. I would think the issue with Porter's lack of security clearance would be an infraction or possibly felony for the person who handed him or let him see the classified papers or media. Who would that have been? Trump, Kelly? Head of the National Security Council? Hopefully the FBI is now investigating them.
26
The problem of spousal abuse has received little attention. Now that the Porter case has brought it to the forefront, the media could start a conversation about it. If everyone from moderators of television programs to high school health teachers would discuss domestic violence, then members of the public would start to recognize that a person who hits their spouse is violent.
Along with the general public, the people working in the White House and the administrators of sanctuary cities need to learn more about domestic violence so they will take it seriously..
Sanctuary cities claim they turn violent offenders over to ICE agents. Evidently, many of them do not view spousal abuse as violence. They do not call ICE agents to pick up illegal immigrants who have been convicted of domestic abuse. They along with everyone else need to see that domestic abuse is violence.
123
It is not only violence; it is a crime. Committed by a criminal.
7
This just in - The White House says Purple is Green.. All Underwear Must Be Worn On The Outside From Now On. We will be getting to more choruses of War is Peace, Love is Hate, Cruelty is Compassion and Love Big Brother now thank you.
19
So what?
Donald Trump is President of the United States.
Paul Ryan is Speaker of the House and Mitch McConnell is Senate majority leader.
Fox News is the Mouth of Trump Ministry of Propaganda.
Vladimir Putin is smiling and smirking.
33
Putin never dreamed it would be this easy.
10
And the White House will refute the FBI, and drive the point that this shows the dishonesty at the FBI. Wait and see.
14
I miss the "no drama Obama" administration. So sick to death of all these lies and scandals.
40
when they say his investigation was still "ongoing" it reminds me of how trumps taxes are still being audited. i think they think its working.
19
Wait! wait! Bengazzi! Bengazzi! What could be more important than Bengazzi? Disregard Rep Gowdy’s final House report, there has to be something!Somewhere! It’s there is we just investigate more!
20
What about Obama? What about Hillary? What about Bill Clinton? There must be more deflection to be found.
4
I’m not sure how Trump and the White House could have handled the past 7 days of this extended story any worse than they have except for Porter saying he was and is a Russian spy. They’ve literally lied about everything. It’s typical of other events since the first day when they tried to tell us what we all saw wasn’t the truth.
As of today, it’s clear that the FBI was done with their initial background check last March. The White House would have been informed that Porter had major red flags. Who knew then, McGahn? Trump? We know last Tuesday that immediately after the initial news hit the public, that Kelly had Porter meet with a handful of reporters, including one from this newspaper. The White House never disclosed any of this. Kelly and Sanders have both lied. It’s the same incompetent and secretive behavior: lie until the media finds out something contrarian to that lie and then revise their story but continue to lie, rinse and repeat.
What’s even more appalling is that they let Porter continue to work and handle every top secret and beyond piece of information even though he was at sizeable risk of being blackmailed. But her emails, right? This makes that nonsense pale in comparison. At this point, it’s clear that Kelly and McGahn, at the least, should be fired or forced to resign, while the damage done to our country by this administration continues to accumulate.
530
The WH lies because FOX Propaganda backs up the lies, and Trump supporters don't care.
Until that changes, everything that comes out of the WH will be a lie.
1
I kind of sympathize with the White House, trying to hang on to him. Based on everything we've heard and read about WH staff, Mr. Porter was seemingly the only competent one. (Not a good guy but at least he understood how a government office works.) As scary as it's been to watch up until now, and with total sympathy for his exes, it's time for pure terror. There is literally no one working there that understands truth or rules and none have a clue as to how to do their job to protect the Constitution. Do we still use the word stumblebums?
Even worse, the Republican congress has given up its role entirely. They got their tax cuts and no doubt promises of a lucrative future from the beneficiaries while they wait for the November blowout. Even if they somehow manage to stay in control they've lost all ability to function. Chester A. Riley said it best - What a rotten development this is.
19
Chester A. Riley's cry was, "What a revoltin' development dis is!"
2
In this ongoing saga of Trump incompetence, lying and misadventure what stands out to me today with this particular example is something very simple. Trump always, and I mean always, blames someone else for every mistake. He never and I mean never takes responsibility for anything that is wrong or goes wrong. Watching Cruella DeVille his press falk go out there day after day and talk in circles, but always find someone else to blame is so very lame and disgusting at this point I wish the Press could just tell her to save her breath, they won't be returning for anymore spin sessions. And it really isn't worth their time.
Remember that famous phrase, "the buck stops here"? Trump shows everyday the buck never stops at his door and he never owns a wrong step ever. And then to add insult to injury, he constantly whines, cries, and complains about being treated "unfairly, and treated "badly". Have you ever met such a rich spoiled brat that still at the age of 71 whines, cries and complains about how unfair people are to him. Poor baby. What a baby! Didn't his parents ever tell him that life isn't fair? How completely childish he is! if everyone in the world does not love and adore him, and flatter heim endlessly and kiss his you know what he feels sorry for himself. He's the victim. Please. Enough is enough is this low life, it's way overdue for Congress to hand him his pink slip.
63
Technically, this wasn't a "mistake." It was a deliberate decision that got found out.
10
Blaming others for what goes wrong, projection of their own faults on others ("Crooked Hillary", "Low Energy Jeb', "Little Marco", "Lyin' Ted"), taking credit for someone else's work (coasting on Obama's coattails on the stock and job markets), cruelty (postponing any clarity on the dreamers until the very last moment, taking the family health insurance away from his disabled infant nephew, mocking a disabled reporter), etc., are standard behavior patterns of psychopaths. Trump is one and he's dangerous. Mueller knows the type and he'll get him. Any self-respecting cop knows the type and they'll be after him after his smearing of the FBI and the DOJ. The last place a psychopath would want to find himself in, is in a glass house where everyone can see him spinning and exhibit his contradictions and lies for all to see - and the presidency of the USA is the world's most transparent glass house...
8
In the scheme of things, this is probably the smallest lie conveyed by the White House. We need a hierarchy of lies to figure out which ones should be at the forefront of our minds because no-one can keep track anymore. IBM's Watson might be up to the challenge...
26
The Republican war on women is not a tuneful political metaphor; it is in fact real and pervasive. The number of men in this administration who have groped, humiliated, punched, and abused women is staggering. It is obvious that the President has assembled all his men in his very own image.
68
Something more is at play here. There is not the need to lie so boldly and wildly unless one is hiding something far more damaging. Did Trump himself overrule White House officials, did Hope Hicks protect Porter, Did Porter compromise intelligence? With the way this White House leaks we will soon find out. My guess is the lying is covering something far more damaging.
638
Hope Hicks certainly did. She assisted Kelly (whom I expect to be the new guy at Unemployment any day now) with his original statement.
11
Trump lies automatically, as do his people. "Biggest crowd ever", "Most regulations written", etc. He's only about marketing, it's about image.
7
Isn't lying what these people do full time? If so, then there need be nothing to hide.
What goes around, ultimately comes around. And hopefully, karma is coming soon for Trump and his lying, conniving, misogynistic band of thieves, abusers and neocon fascists.
25
I'm sure this is all easily explained. The FBI delivered its report months ago. It didn't have enough pictures, graphs, charts or mentions of the president by name for Trump to read it. So really,the fault here lies with the FBI.
22
They should have put it in his Mickey D's bag.
2
My take on this is that no one wants to work in the White House so they've got to take whoever...
Of course, I do realize that the head honcho is an abuser too.
12
I thought I'd become immune to news about just how horrible this Trump-Pence Republican Administration could be. I had to read and reread this piece and I still don't want to believe it. Especially the paragraph:
"Mr. Wray’s testimony pointed up a contradictory and frequently changing story line from the White House about a scandal that has engulfed the West Wing. It has raised questions about the credibility of President Trump’s most senior advisers, their awareness of serious allegations against an aide who had access to some of the nation’s most sensitive information, and the degree of tolerance they may have shown to an ambitious colleague apparently eager to cover up a dark past."
My God, what's to become of us?
26
does anyone in charge care about survivors of domestic violence just having to deal with this past year or two of ‘news.’
it’s very difficult to cope anymore.
Can anyone in charge please just stop lying for one day???
I am 62 and feel like I did as a child of sexual abuse. I feel raped. I feel beat up by my father in my teens.
I feel beat up as a bride and young mother.
I see republicans only care about money.
Can they maybe care about abuse for once?
4
The Executive branch is rotten to the core. And on account of You Know Who's privilege, America must sit and watch grand scale buffoonery destroy any remainder of credibility much less national dignity.
16
The lesson to all of America and the rest of the world? Lie, obfuscate, confound, and lie yet again.
The position of this administration that "all's fair" in the pursuit of reactionary and selfish objectives undermines the possibility of democracy. Through the mission of Make America Hate Again they are subverting the Constitution. These people are neither patriots nor heroes - they are traitors and cowards.
Enough!
17
The White House that lies together, stays together.
13
Don't count on that: They'll throw each other under the bus in a second if they can save their hides so doing...
4
So, who are we supposed to believe: The FBI or the Trump White House?
Wait...is that even a question?
14
Whatever you may think of the official story about the Porter investigation before the FBI's final report in January, it's clear that after the FBI's final report in January, the White House serially lied about its knowledge of Porter's abusive behavior. Most folks want Kelly's scalp -- a good idea if he doesn't fess up that his evasions wronged the women Porter abused.
My preference is for Sarah Huckabee Sanders to go She earned a non-existent trophy, the Goebbels award for Big Lies about the Porter caper.
25
The Goebbels Award. Well said! It would be funny if it wasn't so sad.
5
So Kelly, McGahn, Hagin, Sanders and Shah need to be questioned in Congress about why they are lying to the US public repeatedly to protect a wife beater; and McGahn, Kelly and Hagin need to answer why Porter was allowed to handle classified information. Throw ole Jared in the mix too and find out what he is doing with the daily intelligence briefing he is not qualified to see.....maybe paying off his debt to Putin via the "back channel"for putting Boy Wonder where he is today?
35
As Rachel Maddow pointed out in her MSNBC show last Friday, someone approved Mr. Porter to remain on at the White House as Communications secretary, handling the highest classified information in the nation after his problems with security clearance was disclosed by the FBI. That somebody is supposed to be the president! So either the President approved Rob Porter's security clearance contrary to FBI findings (a real problem to explain away) or someone below him did without the knowledge of the President If someone below him did, they broke the law!
Don't even get me started on Jared Kushner, who also does not have permanent security clearance because of his unsavory ties to Russian business and political entities.
Is anyone in Congress seeing a very troubling trend in the White House? Does anyone in Congress care enough to protect this country and our best security interests by doing something besides a defeatist shoulder shrug?
75
OK. So, I can believe the guy who lies all of the time, or the FBI. Which would you choose?
36
Hey, Trumpists, who you gonna believe? Your exalted Fearless Leader or the FBI? By your answer to that simple question all will be revealed. For those who say Trump we can then file you away into the basket of the deplorable hopelessly lost. Proving Hillary was right after all.
DD
Manhattan
36
Intrigue: Does President Oaf now fire the guy he hired to replace the guy he fired as head of the FBI?
23
In any other administration, this would be a catastrophic screw-up / scandal. But it’s just another week in the Trump White House.
58
Commentators who described Rob Porter as “someone who could not get a security clearance” are wrong.” Federal agencies can waive criminal convictions if they want, and Porter apparently had no criminal convictions or criminal record. (Restraining orders are civil matters.) The White House probably planned to grant Porter a security clearance despite the domestic violence allegation because it partially accepted his version of events more than a decade old. It was also impressed by his work performance, not only at the White House but as a member of Senate staffs. The White House would not have worried about blackmail. Porter was aware the White House knew of the allegations. If his ex-wife had not decided to tail her story to the Daily Mail, he probably would have remained on the White House staff. The black eye photo ended his career.
In November 2016, President Obama called on Congress to follow a growing number of states, cities, and private companies that have decided to “ban the box” on job applications. He meant the box on job application forms that job applicants must check if they have ever been charged or convicted of a crime. Since Rob Porter had no criminal charges or convictions on his record, he has never had to check the box, but at age forty he has lost a promising federal career due to allegations he never had the chance to defend himself against in a court of law.
2
Perhaps you're right.
The Trump White House would be just fine giving a violent, short-tempered, abusive man a security clearance, especially if he constantly flattered Trump.
12
So why didn't they just waive it by now? He's been unclassified for a very very very long time!
4
If they were going to give him s security clearance anyway, they should have done so instead of lying. Lying is the default mode for this administration and the American people deserve better.
This has nothing to do with “ban the box.” That only allows felons the opportunity to make their case in an interview that they have bettered themselves before they are rejected outright and has nothing to do with jobs requiring a security clearance.
5
I just finally got around to watching "The Wolf of Wall St." The parallels between the FBI's quarry in that movie -- the flashy, morally bankrupt, money-obsessed, pathologically mendacious stockbroker Jordan Belfort -- and the FBI's current subject of interest, the Trump Administration, could hardly be more striking. In both cases, the FBI seems to be moving slowly but is smarter, tougher, more persistent, and can't be bought. I so loved the part when the FBI lowered the boom. They make me (still) proud to be and American.
14
Mr. Mueller has been silent as of late and if I were anywhere near Mr. Trump I would panic. Yes, that scene was glorious and the FBI has been under fire before and it will survive for the reasons you mentioned. We thought Mr. Papadopoulous was a surprise. I would quote another - you ain't seen nothin' yet.
5
But oh! Hillary’s email server!
44
Who cares? It's a private matter anyway. He said, she said. Heck Hope Hicks says he is a man with "integrity". So either she is lying or the crazy exes are.
2
"Heck Hope Hicks says he is a man with "integrity"."
I assume Porter drafted the memo saying he is a man of integrity and pushed Hicks to release it.
(Same for the initial Kelly statement and the Orin Hatch statement the next day. )
As one of his former wives explained, he spent an hour on the phone with her pushing to get her to release a statement favorable to him in the last few days, but she refused.
17
One of the crazy exes thought he would be great at the job due to his integrity. Etc.
Maybe that’s the way they still treat spousal abuse in Russia, comrade, but here the FBI takes it more seriously, especially if there’s a lot more to it than he said, she said, and the abuser has access to top secret information without a security clearance, illegal in and of itself... Hope Hicks is lying or Porter hasn’t shown his real face to her yet...
4
So a guy that couldn't get the FBI to sign off on his security clearance handled all the documents that made their way to the president. That includes the president's daily security briefing, perhaps one of the otherwise most secure documents on the planet. Whatever the timeline of WHEN the senior White House staff knew of WHY he was denied a security clearance, the fact that he was given daily access to the most sensitive information that the president sees without passing the proper security vetting is just a touch beyond mind-boggling. We can only look forward to January of 2019. Then the new Democratic heads of the appropriate Congressional committees can get to the bottom of this fiasco, along with all the others.
In the meantime, can we all agree that contrary to Mr. Trump's assertions, the victim here is not Mr. Porter, but the women whom he has abused?
29
i was working on a software implementation project that required everyone to have a secret clearance. It was in a locked facility where everyone had clearances. The program manager went to speak with one of the managers on the project. He wasn't in his cubicle, having gone to the. bathroom. A document marked secret face up on his desk. The program manager fired him right then.
And the White House and a retired 4-star general lets them get away with it. As they say, you can't make this stuff up. That's not what they say but close enough.
52
"Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the White House press secretary who on Monday deflected a number of questions about how the White House handled Mr. Porter’s case, also suggested that it was the intelligence agencies that conduct background checks who should consider their handling of the matter."
I think it is so funny that people still expect even a shred of truth from this drone's big mouth. Actually the only thing I find interesting about SHS is the way she's always dressed like Little Lotta.
39
Even more interesting is how she's gotten so much better at telling the lies. She first came out to cover Sean Spicer, inexperienced and stumbled a bit. Now it rolls off her like it never passed through a thought process. A robotic delivery programmed by others.
15
Honestly, what's amazing is that the good old US of A is still running despite the liars and frauds in the White House and controlling all major agencies and Congress. You know those "career officials" Sanders and Faux News like to talk about as the "Deep State"? Yeah well, thanks to them your life hasn't changed even though the leaders of the country are incompetent.
26
The Republican party has turned a blind eye to Trump's continued transgressions. The US citizenry must hold them accountable at the voting booth. They need a message from us, their bosses, that we will not let them move the country in this direction. Come November, vote any party other than Republican.
64
Can't wait for Trump's tweet tomorrow about the FAKE FBI report on Porter---Ready for the Republicans to issue a secret memo proving that President Obama punched Porter's wife in the face.
58
They just keep lying to us! I'm tired of this!
47
You can almost assume is Ms. Sanders and her other enablers open their mouths they are lying. I don't know what else to say at this point.
13
Some yet "ongoing" investigations:
White House security clearances (multiple),
IRS audits of Trump tax returns,
Trump search for the "real" Obama birth certificate,
OJ's search for the real killer, ...
6
People can abuse siblings or friends physically, verbally, and sexually. The patterns closely track sexual abuse. Some of the victims can be physically smaller. Some are sisters. Those who engage in this sort of abuse are seldom treated as being the moral equivalent of spousal abusers. You would think there would be similar outrage and similar consequences. But that is simply not true. We have been mobilized to protect spouses. Sibling and friend victims are of no practical concern.
1
It is clear, liars are running the country. My poor once great country. Please, someone save us.
8
The FBI doesn't grant or deny employees security clearances. It sends background check reports to federal agencies. The agencies use the background checks to determine whether to deny or grant their employees security clearance. The security clearance process isn’t complete until the agency completes its internal security clearance process. At the White House, this begins with the White House Security Office, which does its own investigation. This is what White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders means when she says the security clearance process wasn’t complete when Rob Porter resigned. FBI Director Christopher Wray testified this morning that the FBI sent the White House “additional information” earlier this month—a few days ago. Porter apparently resigned based on the strength of this additional information. So, Huckabee Sanders was being truthful when she says the White House acted as soon as it had the “full details.”
1
She doesn't know the meaning of "truthful."
5
I agree he should not have been hired.
But WHY is the FBI leaking this confidential information? Time to clean house of the partisan hacks. This corruption and partisanship only affects a very small number of bad apples at the upper echelon. The everyday rank and file workers of the FBI are mostly honest and do their jobs admirably.
Cut the leakers lloose NOW. Good riddance to them. Don't tell me they can't find out who is leaking. They're the FBI. These few bad apples are poisoning the rest of the agency.
"WHY is the FBI leaking this confidential information?"
Protection of national security?
There's an oath to defend the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.
15
And who pray tell in the FBI is leaking in this scenario?
3
The FBI is not leaking this information. The FBI director is openly informing the public of the facts, after the WH was lying about the matter. Both Trump and the FBI work for the American People, remember?
6
So the WH is now claiming that all this went to the security office at the WH, which is staffed by “career operatives” and that none of the information about the investigation by the FBI of Porter made it to the Oval Office. Incompetence at this level should lead to an investigation of what didn’t they know and when didn’t they know it. Unless of course they are just lying.
10
Uh-oh. Kelly and the WH are caught lying AGAIN. What happened to our Two Corinthians christians and the 10 commandments?
16
Republicans made quite a show out of pretending Hillary Clinton's server was a breach of national security even though it never was found to be hacked. Now they have no problem with people lacking security reading top secret files before the President gets them. How many people in the executive office building are seeing secrets without clearance and why aren't the House and Senate Leadership forming subcommittees to investigate this breach.
23
It's a disgrace how Mr. Trump and his ignorant cronies just keep trying to tear down our intelligence community so he can hide his corruption. He will never understand that he works for the American people -- everyone in the intelligence community understands that, but day in and day out we have to listen to that lying Sarah Sanders pitch her phony stories from the oval office -- she too, has no clue that she works for the American people. Will someone in this group finally take responsibility for their actions -- at this point, I think they should all go to jail --
28
Has anyone ever asked whether trump had to pass the same scrutiny from the FBI to obtain a security clearance? If Porter's problem with women precluded his getting one, how did trump ever pass? Does he have a clearance or was he just given a pass? Whether or not he reads anything classified is beside the point; presumably, he hears the occasional classified briefing.
16
Never would I have imagined that such a malevolent man was freely roaming the streets of the USA let alone occupying the white house.Then you add to that everyone in his cabinet,adm. and the entire GOP being corrupt,collusionists and craven is indeed an appalling never ending eye opener.Isn't it an impeachable offense for congress to almost unanimously sign off on additional sanctions on russia[surprisingly]and have our idiotic president not enforce them?Why doesn't senator feinstein just release the
dem's response to nunes' memo on her own?Why doesn't someone take the dotard by the horns and declare him unfit..along with his low rent family and everyone that has to answer to him?.Including every republican that supports him.They're clearly all being blackmailed.
13
Question of the day: if credible, well-documented allegations of sexual abuse and domestic violence are sufficient to disqualify an individual from obtaining a security clearance and becoming a tenured member of White House staff...
I'm sure you see where I'm going with this.
24
Where is all that transparency we heard so much about surounding the release of the Nunes memo?
14
If I learned any lesson from my father it is that you have to tell the truth only once. The truth is The Truth. Because "The Truth" is what is real, it doesn't, unlike a lie, change from iteration to iteration. A lie must be remembered, exactly, an repeated, exactly, every time. A difficult if not impossible feat, because it is grounded in nothing, not in The Truth. Otherwise the lie will expose itself. As we now see with Mr. Porter and Trump and Kelly and Sanders ad nauseum.
Trump and company have (in a phrase our beloved NYT will probably not allow, so I will try to slip it past the pince nez's of the Comments Cops with obfuscational wizardry) gotten their chestular areas squooged between a pair of parallel cylinders rotating in opposite directions.
Hurts, doesn't it?
10
"Booze, bucks & broads," (the 3B's) that place an employee with security clearance at a higher probability of being recruited by foreign & criminal entities to compromise classified material, said the NSA security officer during a briefing in 1997.
Obtaining the required level of security clearance for the government related jobs determined whether I could be employed or not. My first clearance required passing a polygraph (lie detector). The next job, different agency, didn't require polygraph thus lower level of security. This redundant clearance process took close to 6 months to complete. I did not receive a final job offer until the clearance was passed. Then I was offered a direct hire position as opposed to being a contractor. The position was the exact same one I held with the exact same agency. This change in status required yet another security investigation that lasted 3 months. I did not become a federal government employee until that exact same clearance was approved.
I can count on one hand the number of times my work required me to see classified material versus the tons in the WH. My only conclusion is that there is no end to the level of disrespect for the constitution, the government, employees, homeland security, citizenry that they will engage in. I doubt Putin would allow such corruption in his regime.
PS - Offended by the 3rd B, Broads, I asked the briefer if "bucks" stood for studs.
5
Are "shifting explanations" not simply lies? I think so. This administation's blatant disregard for procedure and truth is mind-boggling. The only thing "shifting" in this whole mess is blame. I shouldn't be surprised that such a misogynistic, despicable excuse for a man would defend Porter without one mention of the trauma Porter's ex-wives suffered. It's disgusting how little he values women.
9
I think The FBI directors statements today are a shot across Trump's bow when it comes the the Russian investigation. He is loyal to the rule of law and not to Trump or at least I hope so.
9
When the guy at the top has little regard for the values most Americans cherish, you know it wouldn't be long before the ship runs aground. And now, the rats are leaving the WH with the regularity of a colonoscopy prep. 37% turnover. Still less than any Apprentice season but it's still early.
7
Liars doubling down on lies to solve the latest crisis, only to be overtaken by the next distraction, and ultimately never having to account for any of it because we are awash in a tsunami of deceit. Why? Because Congress has abdicated its role in checks in balances - and that is how our democracy will die, from neglect: indifference from those believe their voice doesn't and the simultaneous intent of those who have put party above country. The press is keeping up with as much of it as it can, but only Congress has the power to stop this.
4
Trump and his entire operation have one thing in common, they are liars.
When you start with this empirical truth, it all makes sense.
“I'm not upset that you lied to me, I'm upset that from now on I can't believe you.”
― Friedrich Nietzsche
“But you can't make people listen. They have to come round in their own time, wondering what happened and why the world blew up around them. It can't last.”
― Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451
11
With every WH statement that's discredited, the level of deceit that will be revealed by the Russia investigation rises exponentially.
5
Who ya gonna believe, the deep state FBI that threw the election to Clinton, or the biggliest smartest genius in the galaxy Donald Trump.
1
Who really cares when they found out. Republicans have just been polishing a turd since 2016. The turd just keeps coming out.
5
DJT was elected on lies and governs on lies. At some point unfortunately, we'll all be paying the piper on his behalf.
5
So how long until Mr. Wray is terminated?
3
Probably not long, but I bet Rod Rosenstein is going to be a whole lot less excited about writing a memo in support this time.
1
This makes Kelly look like an incompetent or a liar. What surprising new information did he learn that made him change his stance on Porter? He knew what was in the FBI background check (that they had known since January 2017) and only changed his tune when the black-eye pictures were published publicly. He needs to go... maybe Omarosa can get him a reality show gig.
8
Have they figured out a way to blame Obama for this?
6
lies, lies and more lies from this administration and it's all accepted by the drooling media and Congress!!
CNBC reports that Porter was in line for a promotion.
I am exhausted by all this winning!
6
Trump's DNI Dan Coats testified today that the background check process is "broken." But I'm prety sure that process is the same as it has always been. If anything is "broken" with respect to national security clearances, it is the administration's refusal to take appropriate action based on the results of background checks.
This entire episode exposes what is so fundamentally wrong with Trump's notion of 'loyalty.' Look, we all value loyalty to some extent. But when an elected official allows loyalty to one's friends and associates to trump [pun very much intended] that official's loyalty to national security concerns, that loyalty ceases to be a virtue in any sense.
3
Can someone explain how Porter was susceptible to blackmail if the FBI and his superiors in the administration reportedly knew about his domestic abuse problems shortly after his hiring?
I am so sick of this punitive and sick administration and have gotten to the point where I would like to see all of them taken away in a super sized paddy wagon, although unlike Mr. Trump, the man playing president, I don't want law enforcement to let them hit their heads on the way in as it wouldn't know sense into any of them regardless. Every day there is another report about a cabinet member wasting taxpayer money on private planes or excessive accessorizing, unnecessary travel or entertainment paid directly into the hands of the worst offender of all when it comes to conflict of interest, the president.
It's amazing to have to be shocked and grateful that someone appointed by the man appears to be actually doing his job and telling the truth even though it might reflect badly on his boss or boss's closest associates. Of course, Donald J Trump and his minions in congress have already done so much damage to the FBI for the purpose of shielding him from scrutiny that there's not much more punishment they could inflict short of firing Wray, who at this point might be grateful other than the fact that he unlike the political hacks attacking his department probably cares about the thousands of men and women working under him.
2
The only way to stop these embarrassing problems is to get rid of the FBI. If the president decided to dismiss everybody with a shady background, conflicts of interest or the inability to get a security clearance, the White House would be empty except for the chef and the security detail.
1
Haven't we been told by Trump and the GOP repeatedly that the FBI can't be trusted? Until one half of the country wises up and tunes in to Fox, joining the other half, it will go on feeling frustrated. Drink the Kool-Aid, watch your standard of living decline, and relax while the White House entertains us to death.
3
CNN Jake Trapper reported a few minutes ago that White House invited four reporters to the White House to interview Rob Porter so Porter could tell his side of the story. Trapper characterized the interview offer as nothing but the White House facilitating domestic abuse by affording Porter a chance to call his ex-wife a liar, but what happen to Porter’s side of the story. Did the news organization refuse to interview Porter? Is this the new journalism at work?
1
What is mysterious or unclear to you about Porter or "the story"? There is a court ordering him to stay away from one wife, him violating the order by smashing a window in with his bare hand, him punching another wife in the face, the FBI checking him out a year ago and verifying all that and then giving the info including photo of the woman's punched black eye to the White House.
Try to concoct a reasonable other side to that story. Whatever force made him into that kind of guy, he is that kind of guy. The kind of guy who punches his wife in the face if she doesn't give it up, and thinks nothing of it.
426
It would appear that this White House administration doesn't regard 'smacking a woman around' as all that bad. How much lower can this go?
32
I did not know that top level security clearances could be so easily elided. I thought there was a law. Evidently they're similar to ethics guidelines, prohibitions against self-dealing, a passing familiarity with our Constitution, and constant lying: mere suggestions. Light little pencil marks that may be ignored or employed against political enemies at will.
6
No surprise here. Trump's WH is the biggest lying reality show ever.
On that subject the "Fake News Media" have not given him his due. They never acknowledge:
He is the biggest liar ever occupied the Oval Office: in number of lies, size of lies, frequency of lies, lies on the most trivial and most unimportant issues, lies on critically important issues.
His WH is the most security loose one: in terms of having people who cannot get permanent clearance, who has muddled past history, who got paid by foreign powers, who borrowed (starts with the liar-in-chief) from foreign outfits, to handle classified information.
I can go on but we got the idea. So I think the media should give his dues.
3
"The Art of the Scam" will have many reviews in future PhD dissertations. And I'm sure the mini-series on Netflix will be riveting. Still, to prevent future con artists from being "voted" in to power, the country and the education system should again make civics a necessary requirement for graduating from High School and college. Also, how to analyze what is written and said. And for sure, if we don't participate in this republic, we will not keep it.
5
Just ignore anything this administration says.
3
When President Trump defends those accused of abuse he's essentially just defending himself by proxy. Likewise, he can't (or won't) show compassion for their accusers/victims because he can't give credibility by proxy to his own accusers/victims.
11
They lied about it ?!! I'm shocked!! What a ridiculous joke this administration is. A few lies a day never hurt anyone right?
7
Hey, it's been years since anyone with any intelligence and character learned that Donald Trump is a morally bankrupt and self-serving moron. And yet the nation has let him keep his job at the White House. Why should a double standard be applied to other morally bankrupt, self-serving morons serving in the White House? Let's play fair, people!
2
Harry S. Truman, a Democratic VP elevated to the Presidency upon the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt, said, "The buck stops here."
Trump looks around, says it's not my fault, and tries to pass the buck to someone else.
Porter is not the only person in the Trump White House who should not have a security clearance.
But that's what you get when your only friends are Russians.
5
So, multiple high level staffers in the trump WH made bald-faced lies about something that could be easily verified and refuted. Again.
Shocker.
4
What a lazy bunch this entire Trump setup is!
Forget about any actual accomplishments, they can't even lie properly, even when their entire song and dance show that passes for a Presidential Administration relies on daily lies, almost lies and then some more lies, with a few paper towels thrown in for variety and diversion.
What a sorry lot. Given their antecedents, not one of them would be hired to collect the stray shopping carts from a frozen parking lot of a dollar store in the dark of the night - sorry, Dollar Stores, and their employees if you feel insulted, but I needed a simile.
But here they are, running (ruining?) our nation, its complex affairs, and long-established institutions built incrementally with so much blood, sweat, tears and toil over 240 years.
5
For sheer veracity, it matters whether it was March or July when the White House learned of Porter's unfitness. However, if they acquired this information in July, they still didn't act on it, so in terms of this administration's standards of behavior for officials. what difference indeed does the timeline make?
2
Initial reports to 'The White House' in March, final report in July. Maybe 'The White House' can't read. Huckabee Sanders says the FBI is to blame. Trump says the men are wonderful guys. Can someone tell us if 'The White House' refers to a person? Give us a Name? SHS says Trump didn't know, Kelly didn't know, Pence didn't know, she didn't know, no one knew of any allegations that these wonderful guys had thumped and burned and bullied their wives. Who's on first?
6
How many examples does Congress require to figure out that Trump lies to it and to the rest of us pathologically and doubtless forever? Tougher question: When will this Republican Congress demonstrate the patriotism to impeach or exercise the 25th amendment (pathological disability) to oust this loud, wildly sick fellow from the most powerful position on Earth?
35
I'd like to see him gone, the sooner the better. However, I think Pence is worse, far worse. Just as loony, but looks sane. Very scary - with Trump we have the idiot we know - with Pence, all bets are off. They ALL need to go.
5
IMHO you will have to eradicate the GOP firstly...
3
Without doubt, Pence is horrible. He may -- may -- be less crazy than Trump. Pence, an obvious phony, would be a short-time replacement for wild man Trump. I don't see how we could possibly do worse than Trump.
1
How shocking that there is a cover up at the White House. One can only wonder what else the White House could possibly be covering up. It is abundantly clear that any information that comes out of the White House is designed to protect the president and his band of higher ups. It is all unraveling, and soon the emperor will be standing naked before us.
13
Ow! I can't unsee Trump naked!
1
I applaud the sentiment but I don't want to see him naked.
3
Sarah Sanders just spent a half an hour making up new ways to say "I don't want to talk about this anymore." Unfortunately, she threw yet another agency under the bus - the "White House Personnel Security Office" are now the ones dragging their feet, not the actual White House per se, or anyone in the West Wing. She claims it is staffed by "career officials" which is code for "swamp" and "deep state", which means they can blame them as crippling the West Wing because the world is against Trump. She's making Spicer look like a rank amateur.
28
What a nightmare! While I have always been skeptical of those that seek to be elected by all means necessary, this group has brought the art of deception to a level not ever been seen. Each time one of these say "the American people" fill in the blank, I wonder just who they are referring to. Surely more citizens are deeply concerned with what their end game is. We the people of conscience, seeking the truth have to get our country back from these people.
17
Gee, what a surprise! The Trump White House ignored an FBI report on an insider, who was known to be a spouse abuser. I do believe Trump also has a tendency to believe men in general over women in domestic violence reports, such as when he supported Mike Tyson over rape allegations, Roy Moore over the numerous women who stated he had sexually assaulted them, many young teens at the time, Bill O'Reilly, and let's not forget that our current president has been accused of sexual assault several times. So, why in the world wouldn't he support Porter? He probably thinks Porter's ex looks good with a shiner.
15
Trump motto is: Beat your wife every day if you don't know why SHE did...
1
so here we go again with trump and his minions and their disconnect from reality
the theme song of all these people comes from the Beatles: "we all I've in a yellow submarine, a yellow submarine, a yellow submarine"
6
Both Kelly and McGahn need to be fired, or to resign.
Kelly has lied about one thing too many, and he has done THAT a few too many times now.
McGahn was responsible for handling the FBI review documents and has either deliberately mishandled those responsibillities, or is totally incompetent (which is doubtful given his former life as a partner at the law firm Jones Day).
547
Evidently that bug is contagious. Either that, or the imaginary prestige of working in the White House is so alluring that seemingly sane men are turned into lying cowards by sheer proximity to the Liar in Chief.
6
Sarah the Huckster should also resign. What a joy to no longer see that excuse for a human being lying and smurking.
8
McGahn, and his father before him, are known as shifty characters in and around Atlantic City. Guess where shifty Don first hooked up with this lawless lawyer? You guessed it!
6
DT probably thought the ex-wives "deserved it." But again, this isn't his living room (oops--it is) and his preferences in flouting the rule of law can't endure indefinitely. (Right?)
3
Still more evidence of an administration so incompetent that it can even lie convincingly, which once again reminds me of what Deep Throat said about the Watergate felons:
"The truth is, these are not very bright guys, and things got out of hand."
16
What are the consequences for misleading the public? Kelly, McGhan and Hagin should resign immediately.
15
Mark, why stop there?
1
Quoting Captain Louis Renault ("Casablanca;" 1942), this may sum-up the current administration and his Congressional enablers.
“I have no conviction, if that's what you mean. I blow with the wind, and the prevailing wind happens to be from Vichy.”
“I am shocked—shocked—to find that gambling is going on in here!”
8
Amid this controversy, I find myself thinking that eligibility for government security clearance should be a prerequisite for presidential candidates.
19
Excellent! As that would also ensure sanity.
Wouldn't hurt anyone but lying liars, would it?
Trump never reads his briefing materials. So maybe the FBI told the White House but nobody the knew because Trump didn't read the info.
Can we get back to something resembling competent adults next time we elect a president???
9
Yes Donny everyone else lies, Everyone else spreads false News. Anyone who would believe that will believe anything. Is it any wonder he is idolized by the Fundamentalist Christians. A man of their cloth.
14
Trump and his cronies never let the truth and facts get in the way of the narrative they are writing. Emperor Trump must always be portrayed as the forthright and honorable man of the people and victim of a smear campaign by US Intelligence Agencies and the liberal media. If Trump tells us that the moon is indeed made of cheese, at least one third of Americans would believe him
8
We can safely assume that whatever Trump says is a lie. This, he has proven on innumerable occasions, this not being the least significant.
This is yet another attempt by an incompetent pathologic liar to cover his tracks and avoid responsibility for a breach that is far worse than any committed by his psychotic delusions of the Democrats. I say this apolitically - it's a TRUMP ISSUE. He has created a war mentality which is destroying our Democracy - pitting truth against lies from his bully pulpit. Until this disgusting, shameful creature is removed from office, there will be no peace, and we will have an open door to Russian meddling in our elections. LOOK AT TRUMP'S OBLIGATIONS IN RUSSIA - FOLLOW THE MONEY! 5 will get you twenty that he is bought and paid for by Putin. As HE would Tweet: "Worst crime in American History". YOUR fakePresident.
13
It only stands to reason: since Mr. Trump places no importance on security briefings and other information, because he is already so very smart, that he wouldn't care if the people who saw those and other papers were fit to see them.
An unfit president allows unfit people to participate at the highest levels; it's abhorrent but not surprising.
13
"Oh, what a web of lies we build when at first we tell a lie."
You, too, General Kelly? The 4-star general whose words Sara Huckabee once chastised the WH press for doubting.
18
Michael Flynn retained his position as NSA for weeks after the FBI warned the White House he was compromised and ripe for blackmail as a result of all his shady dealings. Trump actually admitted to knowing Flynn had lied to the FBI, but he was only forced out when the WSJ broke the story.
You think slapping a few women around really raises any red flags in this administration?
32
Yet another reason everyone in the FBI needs to take the Trump loyalty oath. How dare they contradict our imperial president?
10
To whom was the report delivered? Why didn't that person tell anyone.
4
I'm sure we'll find out soon. The White House is probably making something up right now.
2
And we're surprised by this news how? The whole WH is full of liars, cheats, and con artists, who believes anything coming out of the WH except their cult members?
7
Can you only imagine what Republicans would be saying right now if this had happened in the Obama administration? Fox news would be on steroids!
8
This mess is what you get when a totally inexperienced know-nothing gets the keys to the White House and selects more totally inexperienced know-nothings to join his administration.
12
"sad" for Mr. Porter? How about the ex-wives and his ex-girlfriend? How about all the women that Trump, himself, has sexually violated? Liars? All of them? Add the victims of Roger Ailes, Roy Moore, Bill O'Reilly and now Steve Wynn. Trump is critical of sexual misconduct only when perpetrated by his opponents like Weinstein or Al Franken or Bill Clinton. What a hypocrite!
7
It's not that Trump lies about a lot of stuff. That's not the issue. The issue is he lies about everything.
11
Big surprise. The issue is further complicated by the fact that Trump and his cronies have so devalued truth in our society, that this will all be another hiccup on the way to their next crisis, which is probably already brewing as we speak.
6
Another day, another White House scandal that will be without consequence.
8
it is simple. If you work for the trump administration, you are a sleezeball liar.
If you have any conscience at all, you have already left.
16
Perhaps that could explain the 30 plus percent turnover in that house of horror.
1
Outrageous comments by lackey stooge Raj Shah. Need to get rid of that guy.
"His background imnvestigation was ongoing." Give me a break.
12
Porter's background investigation was ongoing in the same way that Trump's tax audit is ongoing. I'm just glad that the Mueller investigation is still ongoing.
5
I think it’s time to cut to a commercial break.
Just hoping nobody tells Chancellor Trump about the Reichstag fire.
7
Who was the crooked one again? I'm lost now.
21
The swamp festers and grows in this White House.
8
I had a clearance once, couldn’t get near a confidential document without it...it makes me seethe when I hear of this callous disregard at the top, I’d have been locked up for far less. Global Oligarchy Party is hard at work.
8
Federal agencies can get security clearance waivers for employees with criminal records if they want. But Porter had no criminal record. If he had not taken the black eye photo for his ex-wife, he would still be in the White House. The bad publicity did him in.
How can the White House keep all of their lies straight? Lies and spinning the truth. Must get tiring.
8
to Lisa in Ottawa- they can't that's the problem!
2
All the people in the West Wing are working hard to keep track...
1
That's a black eye on the White House.
3
Wray is another of the few Trump appointees who doesn't seem to grasp Trump's concept of loyalty. Trump has done a very good job in this regard of selecting Secretaries and appointees who will back him all the way to the depths of their self-created swamp. Wray hasn't figured it out. He'll be gone as soon as Trump can find an excuse.
4
Never mind that the fake president is a compulsive liar, this is clearly a danger to national security.
While the media will simply out pervs in the current administration, a foreign intelligence service could use the information about their indiscretions to blackmail them.
Doesn't jeopardising national security constitute
grounds for impeachment?
Doesn't it make you wonder what juicy tidbits about our fake prez are in possession of the FSB and how far he may be prepared to go to keep them from surfacing?
Could you ever imagine that a major political party would continue to support such miscreant?
7
This is just so outrageous
6
If COS Kelly has a shred of decency or integrity left he'd resign immediately.
This is not the first time he's flat out lied on the record; how many other COS can you say that about?
This isn't just a matter of letting an accused wife beater keep a job - Porter is blackmail bait if there ever was.
How do we know he isn't already compromised and handing Russia/China or any other of our enemies vital intelligence he gleaned from the daily intel posts he gives Trump?
But we all know what will happen - Kelly stays, he'll find a way to get rid of Wray and Rosenstein, install brown nosers to head the FBI , shut down the Mueller investigation, and democracy will die a slow tortuous death at the hands of traitors, racists and misogynists.
5
Now he will call for an investigation into Wray for making up a story about Porter, more Fake News.
2
Good grief, another cover up?! #50Shadesgate
2
This would be a major story in any other administration. Instead, it's another what else is new event? Can you imagine the outrage from republicans if Obama had done this?
There would be impeachment discussions, multiple hearings, and appointment of a special prosecutor. "National security is being compromised", would be the republican mantra.
6
We owe a debt to the ex wives for speaking up. I think the world of them. They are true patriots.
16
Considering these chronic security lapses and blunders, cant help but wonder if blackmailers have already compromised the White House.
3
Oooh, looks like Christopher Wray is going to be a new target for a Trump smear campaign.
Devin, I think Trump is calling you!!
3
Wray did not actually contradict the White House. He testified the FBI sent additional information on Porter "earlier this month." The White House acted quickly once it had the full details.
The White House has always maintain that it knew about the allegations against Rob Porter months ago but only received the “full details” a few days ago. Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders pointed out during this afternoon’s White House press briefing that the testimony FBI Director Christopher Wray gave this morning regarding Rob Porter did not conflict with the White House timeline.
Wray testified: “What I can tell you is the FBI submitted a partial report on the investigation in question in March, and then a completed background investigation in late July. Soon thereafter, we received request or follow-up inquiry, and we did the follow-up and provided that information in November, and then we administratively closed the file in January. And then earlier this month, we received additional information, and we passed that on as well.” Earlier this month would be a few days ago.
The additional evidence is apparently what triggered Porter’s resignation. It probably included the black eye photo.
What happens at the WH, does not stay a secret.
1
Once upon a time I held a government clearance that allow me to handle documents and to enter into secure areas on a base and ROAM the halls.
Besides swearing an oath to protect the Constitution, I was told any communications and their devices that you used could and would be monitored by 'Uncle Sam.' National security would roam the offices, desks and halls after people left for the day or night.
If you left unsecured materials out when you were away from your station, they would confiscate the items and leave you a small calling card with only a RED HAND printed on it. One time a secretary I knew said she came to work one morning and exclaimed to one of her co-workers "what's this cute little RED HAND on my desk...!" The co-worker grimaced and explained what it meant, and she hand to take the card to security to retrieve her confiscated documents.
I'm not sure what happened after you got one as to what came next. Was it depending on the severity of the materials confiscated or the number of times you were breached that mattered more?
So how many people in 45's mis-administration are roaming the halls and facilities that are NOT CLEARED?
Now we learn that the top three Russian intelligence agents had paid Putin's STOOGE a visit along with Coats and Pompeo.
Maybe they want to "make a deal" on some real estate and get a tour of Disneyland behind the scenes...? Maybe they brought some spare cyanide pills to pass around for just in case...?
14
Has DJT received his security clearance yet?
24
"The president of the United States is not subjected to a background investigation and doesn’t hold a security clearance in the traditional sense. That may sound strange at first, given the fact that even a chef at the CIA requires a top secret security clearance. But because the president is the person who actually establishes classification procedures, he or she can declassify something at any point."http://www.govexec.com/excellence/management-matters/2016/11/why-donald-...
2
In any other administration than his own, he would never pass muster; he is a walking, talking example of the term "conflicts of interest" and has such a shady past with so many unsavory associates that he came into the office a security risk even without his Russia problem, which I suspect is the result of his inability to get financing domestically because of his multiple bankruptcies in the 80's.
Where are his tax returns !!!
The leader sets the tone. When you have a pathological liar leading the country, it should be no surprise that the rest of the organization follows suit.
12
Trump attacks the media on the Porter matter using the shield of Due Process.
The Supreme Court of the United States established standards to assure Due Process is accorded an accused in the cases of Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963), Giglio v. United States, 405 U.S. 150 (1972), United States v. Agurs, 427 U.S. 97 (1976), Kyles v. Whitley, 514 U.S. 419 (1995). These cases hold that exculpatory evidence and evidence affecting the credibility of witnesses be disclosed to the accused, especially if the evidence could impeach a witness. These cases and their progeny do not permit the prosecution to conceal this information or to sponsor perjured testimony.
Ironically, when one looks at today’s testimony from the FBI about the information provided to POTUS on Porter, we learn Trump, his chief of staff, and his press secretary lied and concealed evidence. When law enforcement agencies and prosecutors become aware of lying cops, the officer is fired or not permitted to testify.
So if Mr. Trump wants Due Process, lets get rid of all the people in his administration who lie. He can set an example by resigning.
15
Trump has been a liar (pathological), a cheater (on his wives and the people of the United States on his "still being audited" income tax returns), and a thief (in continuing to profit from and promote his business interests) his entire adult life.
That he was actually elected to be our President is a scar and a shame on the People of the United States and a terrible embarrassment to us in the eyes of the World. We can only pray that his term will be as short as possible and that the damage he is doing to our Constitutional Democracy can be repaired as quickly as possible
35
This is no surprise since this administration is unable to be truthful about anything it does. Whatever happened to honesty, integrity and ethics in our government and it's leadership? We expected that a morally bankrupt charlatan like Trump would lie about anything but it has quickly and dangerously spread to his party and underlings. Our current Federal leadership is in crisis.
17
And this is what we know is going on....how much more of this stuff is being swept and kept under the rug...
12
John Kelly is a Marine. Quite possibly the biggest group of misogynistic pigs on earth. Their track record is an absolute disgrace with the latest their series of internet sites designed solely to humiliate female Marines. Officers and enlisted men participate in large numbers despite all efforts to shut the sites down. We're talking generals. Nobody has been punished at all as the sites are seen as a boys will be pigs type of scenario to be laughed at in the finest Marine tradition.
So the fact that he saw nothing wrong with Porter beating up his wives hardly comes as any sort of surprise. Kelly thinks of women in some sort of Doris Day movie from the '60's. Adoring and compliant. If you don't fit that profile, you deserve what you get. Men are honorable. Women are treacherous.
That's what both he and his boss believe. And why Kushner is still being protected despite still not having a security clearance and lying throughout the entire process. He's a "good man".
15
Lou:
Do you remember the "Tailhook Association" scandal that the Navy had in 1991?
The Secretary of the Navy and the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) both got canned for that one.
1
Not ready to call this "Portergate" just yet, but the White House obviously has been engaging in another political cover-up.
9
I wonder who is the worst liar, our President, or his Chief of Staff?
Until now, we knew was Trump, but it seems that John Kelly, who is supposed to be the "adult in the room", is fighting for the first place.
9
Never before in our Country's history has an Executive and Legislature been so corrupt. Seems like there are only liars and deviants in power having access to classified information and our natIon's top secrets. These are loose canons who can be easily blackmailed and our arch enemy Russia has already gotten the ball rolling. Looks like even the one in the White House is perhaps on that list. We may have the biggest Red Button. But it may soon change hands. Our country is in crisis, the emergency state - red!
9
"It has raised questions about the credibility of President Trump’s most senior advisers" .... Really?! Shocking!
9
...but her emails. Clearly the best people are looking over our nation's confidential secrets.
4
If this WH team will lie repeatedly and forcefully just to protect a guy who isn't even Cabinet level, just imagine what they're doing to protect 45. The credibility of this WH is utterly and completely destroyed, and as a result America's place in the world is being eroded on a daily basis.
14
At this point, more than 25% of the way through this first term, who among us honestly expects for a representative of the Trump administration to tell the truth? Are we all still standing around waiting for it when there's so many more important things to cover?
Yes, Mr. Porter sounds like an awful person, but take a long look at Trump's line up and tell me who among them doesn't have a lengthy list of questionable business practices or ridiculous statements? Dare I say none? Yet we wait with baited breath for the moment when someone left in Trump's Bad Apples acts like any of this MATTERS to them.
This is not to say Mr. Porter should still be employed or to defend Trump, just to merely point out how weird it is that we give all this manpower to wait for the appearance of a unicorn. It's not going to happen.
4
The last time an FBI director told the truth in a public hearing he was fired. I wonder how long Wray has? Pretend for a moment we are hearing this about the Hillary Clinton administration. Just think about it for a moment.
9
What does this tell us? The White House including not only Mr. Trump but also Mr. Kelly, Mr. McGahn, Mr. Hagin and Mr. Shah, lied as to when they knew about Mr. Porter's physical abuse of his wives. It tells us the White House doesn't believe there is much wrong with Porter choking and beating his wives. It tell us the White House doesn't have the competence to properly address the blackmail risk. It tells us they simply did not care very much about national security. It tells us they thought they could just sweep it under the rug as if it were just so much money laundering. In any case, it tells us Porter was a mega national security risk for the past ten months. And the White House did nada.
18
What did Trump, Kelly, Hagin, McGahn and even Hope Hicks know and when did they know it?
What Sarah Huckabee Sanders knew is not so important. Her job, which we taxpayers pay for, is to lie incessantly, a vocation she embraces and does very well.
But come to think about it, truth isn't important to any of the others either.
16
What SHS knew isn't that important, I guess, but she is the everyday face of the lie. One would imagine that anyone with any kind of moral compass would find this daily routine of conscious lying disturbing. For someone who professes to be 'religious' it is the height of hypocrisy. I guess the job and loyalty to djt matter more; more than the constitution, more than the people of the United States.
3
I agree with James Mignola on SHS. Given the daily routine she chooses every working day, I conclude tat she has no moral compass. Might she love her children? Given what she is doing to the country they will grow up in, and the evil example they will see her setting and perhaps one day imitate, probably not so much.
3
Director Wray, with his hopefully honest testimony, may find his tenure as FBI Director short-lived with his “showboating” and “grandstanding”. Woe be unto those who will disagree with the “president”.
Second thought is how will the purveyors of fake news and many lies in the White House spin this development.
The stench of dishonesty emanating from Trumpland is becoming overwhelming.
This winning is just astounding.
Thinking back, Mr. Trump called previous administrations disasters while his is imploding.
8
Really great article title, NYT! That's exactly what happened. The President let him keep his job even after he knew he was accused of beating his wives.
4
Just like with Flynn, these potentially very serious security breaches only seem to matter once the press finds out.
10
What a difference a day makes. Just finished watching the Daughter of a Preacher Man comedy show and yesterday Sarah claimed the words that tumbled out of her mouth were those of the President. Today it was the Sergeant Schultz defense of I know nothing. And not one question about infrastructure week.
5
I'm sure Mr. Trump will be attacking Mr. Wray soon via twitter -- it seems anyone who tells the truth is the enemy. 2020 can't come too soon -- let's hope most of Trump and Congress's power is stripped in 2018.
11
Thanks, Christopher Wray. At least one Republican is willing to state the truth.
Not that it will matter all that much. Congress in the hands of Republicans has signaled again and again that it is fully in the tank for the grifter.
11
Why does it matter when Trump (or any one) knew of these allegations? They happened 15 years ago. It doesn't affect job performance. He will just get another job tomorrow. Or should he never work again? really?
1
Right - like once convicted of a crime it doesn't matter after a few years...
3
and why does anyone need a security clearance anyway
2
Patrick, Suppose you have a skeleton in your closet. One that involves committing a crime that has yet to come out publicly. You are, at that point, quite vulnerable to blackmail. Further suppose that you also handle every red folder the President of the United States sees. The price for not going public with your crimes may well be the contents of one of those red folders. Do you think this is the proper risky position for you to put the country in? Do you think it is the proper thing to ignore as President? As Chief of Staff and a former Marine? See the problem? Many people do. Most of the West Wing claims not to have even known what they were already told by the FBI. As for Rob Porter himself, there are plenty of jobs that do not involve potential compromise by foreign powers and after all, the world now knows about these allegations, so he can go with that. How about you offer him a job?
3
The Trump White House continues to allow people without clearances to access classified information. That is why Trump insisted Clinton should be in jail.
The mere possibility that someone without a clearance saw something moved Congress to investigate Clinton for years. But Trump himself has directly allowed uncleared people to have unfettered access.
Congress, are you listening?
9
I have no idea how many of those who are charged with the vetting/clearances of people in the administration, are themselves divorced. But if many of them are, they are far more likely to be a bit jaundiced about such accusations from ex-wives. Ex-wives or soon-to-be ex-wives have been known to lie or exaggerate in order to get a better settlement. This is just a fact of life. And I saw that AS an ex-wife. I did not do this, but my former husband's next wife certainly did so.
What needs to happen is not just accusations but prosecution. If there is not enough evidence to prosecute, under the laws of this country, there is a presumption of innocence, whether it's correct or not. But it's the way we have always handled the law in the country and it's a GOOD way to do so.
If these men have all been abusers, why did their wives never file charges against them? A picture leaked to someone - is that truly "proof"? They do have the right of presumed innocence and today, we are giving this to NO ONE who has been accused of anything such as sexual misconduct. This is a VERY bad precedent for this country.
Right now, this entire area is a hot mess. I, in no way, excuse any sexual misconduct or abusive behavior toward a spouse/girlfriend/boyfriend! But we do have a rule of law, and it should be followed. The Court of Public Opinion should not dominate and destroy, perhaps unfairly, someone's entire life.
2
"Ex-wives or soon-to-be ex-wives have been known to lie or exaggerate in order to get a better settlement."
Lying to the FBI is a felony punishable by jail time.
7
The selling points for John Kelly were honesty, integrity and competency. Now, all those selling points are in doubt.
5
Let me translate the Trump-speak for you. When the White House says the security investigation wasn't completed, they mean nothing is completed until they get caught in their lies. And Trump's tweet and public comments explains his attitude -- i.e. never mind that you beat your wife to a pulp as long as Trump thinks you are helpful to him. If Porter's security clearance wasn't approved, why was he handling documents requiring a clearance? More importantly, how many others in this Administration are handling top secret documents? As bad as the Russian hacking was, we now have to worry more that others like Porter, who are/were susceptible to blackmail, could be handling over documents to the Russians or other enemies of the United States.
2
This is not the first time someone on President Trump’s White House staff was unable to get a permanent security clearance. We can only wonder how many others have been denied appropriate clearances.
Are they this allowed to handle classified documents?
Where is Devin Nunes when we need him?
5
Trump is a compulsive liar and each member of his staff is a mini-me of him.
29
These words describe the current White House: incompetent, arrogant and corrupt.
31
What if Rob Porter was a "mole"?
17
Crooked Hillary Clinton and her team "were extremely careless in their handling of very sensitive, highly classified information." Not fit!
Trump July 6, 2016
The Chito Messiah reveals classified Israeli intelligence to the Russian ambassador, two aids already convicted of selling access to foreign nations his son in law still without security clearance and they simply ignore the FBI's background check in porters case.
All the HRC haters may speculate that she may be careless with classified info. BUT hold your boy to the same standard. House and senate committees would be falling all over themselves to hold hearings and get to the bottom of this. Imagine what jokers like Nunes would say.
Worse the intell community told the legislature that the Russians were hard at work preparing for 2018 elections. Our POTUS who took an oath to defend this nation has done nothing, nothing to defend us from this danger. It is the greatest dereliction of duty since the Vietnam war. What is congress doing? attempting to shield the president while the nation is left vulnerable.
VOTE these swamp things out
38
Isn't that "Cheeto Messiah" ?
The White House let Rob Porter keep his job the same as Jared Kushner. Neither have security clearances and no one cares. Some claimed John Kelly was the adult in the room but that is just another scam since he is just another grifter like all the rest.
26
Who ya gonna believe, the FBI or the White House?
10
Oh, Sarah have you no shred of decency left?
23
How can one trust anything that emerges from the White House now?
9
Makes it harder to believe anything coming out of the White House
10
Everyone in that morals and integrity lacking administration are nothing more than a frightened pack of liars. If it truly is a crime to lie to the public...geez...where are the handcuffs???
9
Oooo, watch out, Sarah! Don't you be telling the FBI how to do their job. Leave that for your boss. Otherwise, you'll be hiding in the bushes outside (maybe dressed up like the Easter bunny), as Raj steps up to the podium to give the press briefing.
15
As an aside, just when we thought that Kellyanne Conway was the most disgusting woman on the planet, along comes Sarah HUCKABEE Sanders. I honestly do not know how that woman looks at herself in the mirror. How shameful she is.
48
Mr. Porter was handling highly classified national security information without a full security clearance. Ms. Sarah Goebbels Sanders told the White Press Corps Porter had an Interim Security Clearance, and that his full clearance was in the works. An "ongoing process," is how se described it. Said "process" had been "ongoing" for about 13 months. Interim Security Clearances are usually granted for only 90 days, while a new administration gears up. It's been reported that some 30 to 40 White House officials and political appointees are also on Interim Security Clearances. So much winning! So much swamp draining! Strange way to MAGA! Anybody hear Putin's horse laugh?
35
Thank you!! to all the men and women of the FBI who continue to do their jobs under enormous bullying, threats and harassment from the Oval Office.
We Americans have your back!
And for those who are thinking about leaving because of Trump, please -- for the sake of your country -- hang in for as long as you can. You are the incredibly thin blue line between us and these WH goons.
47
What's a couple months difference in what the FBI and the Trumpeteers say about getting dirt on Rob Porter. He said, she said, that's all.
1
They’re all a bunch of liars - Trump, Shah, Huckabee-Sanders! Kushner and how many others in the White House do not have security clearances? There is a reason for concern as people with skeletons in their closet or hotels may be targets for blackmail that could compromise national security. Like ‘thetruthisoutthere’ said, the buck always stops somewhere else for this administration.
11
My suggestion to the FBI
Design a polygraph machine which fits secretly into a chair.
Then sit down these politicians and begin the interrogation..
Have a seat sir, can we get you some coffee or a coke ?
3
As a middle-class working guy, I'd like to join this #Metoo movement. I think having to constantly read about this Trump administration's abuse of power amounts to an assault of all American People.
18
It appears that the buck doesn't stop anywhere any longer. This administration is a true national disgrace!
15
Someone's pants are on fire, and I'm pretty sure it's not anyone in the FBI.
12
Trump simply does not care about anyone save himself.
He does seem to have a smattering of fellow feeling for those with whom he identifies - rich, white men who are exposed for the same crimes that he himself has been accused of.
Roy Moore? Well, the pageant owner who barged into little girls' dressing room to leer at them in the nude isn't going to criticize a fellow pedophile wannabe.
Rob Porter? The P-Grabber In Chief who still has a charge of rape levied against him by his first wife will never throw a domestic abuser under the bus.
Extortionists? Fraudsters? Racists? Some of them are "very nice people", after all.
Victims? They're "losers" - and Donald Trump will never identify with THEM.
His views are known in the White House and set the tone for his underlings to follow. This bias, this preference for predators and felons will continue as long as Trump is permitted to stay in power.
16
Lies, even about security clearances? In the White House of Trump, that would be just another day at the office. Small wonder the Russian foreign minister and ambassador looked so pleased in their White House photo with Trump last year.
https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/05/10/527755991/trump-meets...
9
Makes me nervous everyday to think that Whitehouse being managed by such incompetent+dishonest people. I think even our local school district is a far better managed organization.
11
Its any ones guess how the White House staff will try to re-spin the lies they have already told about the time line involving this fiasco involving Rob Porter. More lies or fake news I would presume.
6
Don't worry the white house press secretary will explain this away.
Something like:
1) "We asked for clarification, as has been reported, so clearly the investigation had not really been completed."
or the more plausible one that they would never admit...
2) "We wanted to know if there was any chance that Rob Porter'a ex-wife deliberately rammed her face into Rob's fist, in attempt to disparage this fine mans character."
2
This should be the final nail in Wrays coffin.
2
Christopher Wray, the FBI Director, was appointed by Trump.
He has no reason to lie about the time line or the evidence of domestic abuse.
1
Yes. Sadly.
And why should anyone be surprised?
4
I just can't believe that every last Republican only gets their news from Fox, WSJ, Breitbart etc. SOME of them MUST read the Times and WaPo...and there are so many other sites and publications all coming to the same conclusions about the utter failure of this administration on every conceivable level. How can there be 40% approval rating? How? I understand the meaning of denial, but there is just an over preponderance of evidence that everything is so disreputable, so rotten, and so dangerous as this President and his band of lying sycophants. Are we to really believe that all Republicans agree with the sexism, racism and nationalism? The absolute greed?
9
Deb Paley, we must NOT believe that all Republicans approve of DT .
The challenge is to start to treat some GOP people as witnesses to and victims of horrible domestic violence, which they KNOW is wrong, and need to escape from but just don't have a clue as to how that can be done. They need to constantly be offered counseling and shelters and protection.
1
Porter’s exes did not hire Glory Allred and cry abuse on T.V. The FBI did an extensive investigation and ultimately corroborated these allegations in July via multiple, in person interviews with his exes and their extended circle. Specious due process arguments do not hold water here. The White House simply did not care.
12
This entire episode stinks and may top the list of mis-management by the WH.
In the real world, a 10-year criminal background check takes about two weeks. Why is it taking the WH over one year?
Maybe the answer is that Trump just doesn’t care, as well as Kelly. We know neither of them cares much about domestic abuse allegations, even when there are multiple allegations (and victims). But missing the obvious security risk of blackmailing a top aide is unforgivable.
7
Sarah Huckabee Sanders sure is slick; not meant as a compliment.
6
This administration lies with impunity. Has anyone noticed? Does his constituency care?
6
I am convinced that the reason Porter's temporary security clearance as well as that of the other 30-40 White House staffers were allowed to stay was so that attention would not be drawn to Kushner's temporary status. Kelly is no longer functioning as Trump's chief of staff he is simply the president's flunky willing to lie and participate in a cover-up of the facts reported by the FBI.
"The Mooch" just tweeted that Kelly must resign. WOW now that's payback for you. Sure the "The Mooch" would have handled the situation more ethically LOL.
7
Why shouldn't it? It has been at war with Trump since Comey and Lynch went to work for the DNC on "the matter". But the question really is, who in government has fully trusted the FBI since the Warren Commission in the days of J. Edgar? Congress? Fools if they do?
1
This calls for a full investigation of who knew what and when they knew it, Unfortunately we cannot believe everything we hear or read
The frustrating thing is that Trump's low-information base will never hear this. And, if they accidently did, they'd dismiss it as a Liberal plot to discredit "good people."
However, if Trump tweeted, "Obama never had any clearances during his entire 8 years because he was a Muslim from Kenya," the fools would lap it up.
9
Please, don't give him any ideas!
2
There is a very simple explanation for the timeline shifts...
"Nobody at the WH lied. The truth just keeps changing."
Simple.
3
1. Sexual abuse is a psychological impairment. Abusers are acting out on their sexual fantasies. Their conduct is generally preordained and not a result of personal choice.
2. Abusers can cause great harm to their victims. But that doesn't change the fact that abuse is an urge not a choice.
3. A person's sexual perversions, if contained, do not spill over into their professional lives. Many accomplished individuals are abusers.
4. Firing an accomplished abuser is about providing a remedy for the victim -- who may or may not benefit. And it's about society's revulsion for sexual aberrants who are the only offenders forever shunned and placed on a permanent offender list.
5. The mos effective remedy for sexual abusers is mandatory sexual rehab courses or therapy while allowing them to work in a job commensurate with their skills.
6. Offenders who complete rehab and have no remission should be removed from sex offender lists.
7. All of this is consistent with the liberal view that sentencing should be about deterrence and rehabilitation, not retribution and revenge.
8. As to Porter, blackmail was supposedly a special concern. But, based on this article and other information, his problem was well known. If someone is already exposed, blackmail efforts will come to naught.
And chance you can cite your sources?
Anyone have a count of the lies Sara Sanders has told the American people in the past week?
She's certainly breaking previous records set by the Trump team.
9
My daughter who as a freshman is off to college this year. She asked me last week if I watched the SOTU. I said, "no, because I really can't listen to/watch a liar". I'm pleased to have raised an individual who knows what and when the SOTU is, but I am truly saddened that I mentally skipped past saying "no, I didn't see the *President*" and went straight to *liar".
I am grateful for the NYT, WAPO, ATC and many other sources for your reporting.
9
Lying, alternate facts, misleading, obfuscation; if you keep lowering the bar sooner or later you're going to hit rock bottom. Doesn't the truth matter at all?
6
Once the dust settles, the cheating, lying and scams that this "administration" has pulled off or tried to will fill volumes. And every single thing they've done has been countenanced if not outright welcomed by the GOP.
9
Every time a wrongdoing is revealed, the White House aggravates the problem by lying about it. Whether they were notified by the FBI in January or March doesn't matter. What does matter is the lax or irresponsible attitude about security that exists in the executive branch, starting with the appointment of the shifty Michael Flynn as National Security Adviser. Then there was the incident in the oval office when Trump revealed classified material to the visiting Russians. And a year later, Jared Kushner does not qualify for nor
have security clearance. Now, we find out that the staff secretary, Rob Porter,
who see everything that crosses the president's desk, did not receive security clearance. The pattern is one of laxity and negligence but no one in the oval office wants to accept responsibility. Scary.
12
As far as I’m concerned, VP Pence is just as complicit. He was there during that time frame & did not raise any flags.
Thank you Director Wray! Going to make a donation to the FBI Agents fund now.
9
A great Republican once said:
"You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time."
Trump and his administration have clearly decided to test that theory.
3
Who to believe....hmm. The FBI or the White House? No brainer, the FBI. It's almost to the point that what comes from the press briefings, cannot be trusted without independent corroboration. What a sorry state of affairs. God help us all if something serious happens. We can't trust the President or his minions to even partially tell the truth.
7
Once again, a pattern of obfuscation, lies and total denial of abuse/harassment from the Casa Blanca. It should not be lost on women who value truth and who are appalled by domestic violence and harassment that the President and his messaging-band are, in effect, calling Mr. Porter's credibly abused ex-spouses 'liars'. Even if you 'say it ain't so', it still may be so President Trump. These people are so NOT worthy of their positions in leadership of our government and of the free world. Vote in November!
5
Wow. It's fully revealed Trump isn't directing our intelligence agencies to safeguard against Russian interference in upcoming elections.
And Director Wray bravely spoke truth to power that this white house lies.
Wray completely contradicted the false narrative of when the FBI informed the White House about the status of Porter's security clearance investigation.
Had this been the Obama White House, Republicans would be demanding investigations, which would go on for years.
In Feb. 2017, Trump had to be forced to fire 6 more people from his White House staff in after they failed FBI background checks + some were escorted by security out of the building for not successfully passing the Questionnaire for National Security Positions for security clearance.
They failed the SF86 background investigation is for anyone applying for “security clearances and high-risk public trust positions.” Obviously Porter did not "pass" this clearance. So why was he still there? How did this policy change? Has there been a coup d'état by Kelly and Miller?
2
The more puzzling question is “why is Kushner still there?”
2
None of this comes as a surprise.
It is disheartening that so many will discount this news and try to shift the story a la Fox News and that most of Fox News audience will believe.
1
Being caught out in another lie - this grievous one being about spousal abuse - is just another day in the dysfunctional embarrassment that is Trump's administration.
2
Such mishandling, and lying about the clearances necessary for personnel to operate an effective national security system seem to me to be "high crimes." It all flows back to the president who is responsible for keeping our nation safe.
2
The White House is now built on a complete foundation of lies, misstatement of fact and distortion of truth. We have never had a less trustworthy government in our history--and that is quite a statement. We're at our lowest point and the republicans in congress have proven they will not act and are thus complicit. It will be painful (and dangerous) to wait until November for a complete gutting of congress. But we must systematically remove the brazen toxicity from our leadership and replace it, once again, with at least the semblance of competent governance.
12
I'm afraid the brainwashing and self care of Trumpists is too wide spread to be eradicated. Nazi Germany lasted 12 years and needed to burn to the ground before being stopped.
3
What type of security clearance did Mr. Trump go through, before being sworn in as our president? Is just voting a person enough?
8
Dan Coats, Director of National Intel Agency claimed the Russian threat of meddling is ongoing. Serious enough . A greater threat, besides having donald in the WH, is the internal threat that will erode this nations foundation because of the building national debt. There will be consequences by avoiding this threat.
4
This administration seems to believe it can operate outside the law with impunity. Sadly, that may be so for now, since Congress shows no signs of trying to rein it in. But the White House should bear in mind that hubris can lead to nemesis. In the end, playing fast and loose with the reputation of the FBI may not be a good idea.
4
It's really a fascinating insight into life inside a dictatorship, to see Trump claiming the FBI doing their job is treason, claiming a lack of applause is treason, telling lie on lie - and his party, his minions and his people buy all of it. That's how a dictatorship survives - those who really think the leader cannot be questioned and due process should not apply.
10
He may have already been compromised given the consequences of this information getting out.
Everyday I ask myself, 'How long can this continue until someone, in a position of power to create change and who believes in the Constitution, publicly asknowledges that this president is violating his oath of office on a day basis? And everyday the answer is the same. Until and unless the balance of power changes in Congress nothing will change. Oath of office, American principles, checks and balances aside, there is no one who will speak truth to power. As one who grew up in the throes of McCarthyism, I recognize the need to stop the tide of Trumpism before the damage cannot be undone. Can anyone imagine the outcry if it had been Obama or HRC who had people in the WH without a clean security clearance? And the people who lie for him- they are amazingly good at it. Huckabee-Sanders is the wizard of lies. I don't know how she, or any of the enablers, sleep at night. I wish I could figure it out because it would wonderful to find an escape from this nightmare that is Donald Trump.
12
They probably take sleeping pills.
I'm thinking it's more like a lot of Vodka.
"Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the White House press secretary who on Monday deflected a number of questions about how the White House handled Mr. Porter’s case, also suggested that it was the intelligence agencies that conduct background checks who should consider their handling of the matter."
These people are unreal. Always deflecting blame.
10
Perhaps the confusion in the WH isn't when but what they were told. Under those circumstances it doesn't matter whether it was March or July when they learned Porter wouldn't receive a permanent security clearance because the WH wasn't going to abide by the decision in any event.
1
Keeping score. Now we have two FBI directors in succession indicating that Trump is a flat-out liar.
17
Everyone in the White House that does not now have the required security clearance needs to be removed from their positions. In particular, this must include Jared Kushner. All of these people are potential spies for Russia or China. This is not a matter of "due process" but a matter of national security. A conflict of interest may not be a crime but it can be a national security issue.
20
Trump has problems filling positions - he has to take what he can get (with loyalty to him being the main prerequisite) and hope for the best.
As someone who held both Secret and Top Secret clearances throughout my career, I find the White House has made a mockery of the clearance process. Any cleared General Schedule employees or cleared contractors with these issues would have lost their clearance and been escorted out (or fired) long ago.
19
No commander would survive the investigation.
I guess Trump will tweet that the FBI continues their "treasonous" activities and support Porter/Kelly. Again, inferring to" fake news" and blaming various parties to cover up White House lies.
Hopefully, Trump will soon join Netanyahu and be shown the door. In addition, end up in federal prison.
46
IF trump were not president, would he be able to get a security clearance?
56
Wow! More outrage about this than the missing emails? Democrats wake up!
4
I really wish that you would read the report on the "missing" emails. There is so much misinformation about this. The report states that some of the emails were duplicates, or some not related to official government work. Of the emails examined, only about 19 were reclassified as containing information that was sensitive and not classified or a threat to national security. Not all emails have to be retained pursuant to federal document retention rules. Even Colin Powell was called out in the report on past practices. Former Secretary of State John Kerry was also mentioned in the report for following protocols. So really. Read the report. Really. Please.
9
The Republicans in my circle of family and friends are also dismayed by this very bizarre scenario that's being played out, let alone the fact that someone with the temperament and reputation of Porter was ever even allowed to work this closely with the president of our country. And since Clinton is NOT the president, and there have been investigations into the matter already, there doesn't seem to be a reason for anyone to get outraged over her emails, especially when we have so many immediate concerns about the disturbing disarray of this White House.
4
Lying stealing and double-dealing
Sing it AGAIN, with feeling.
21
Wasn't it Porter who was respossible for what went to the Presidents desk to be read? Is it possible that he deliberately buried the report?
14
Of far greater concern would be Trump's relentless dismissiveness in his ongoing war with the FBI
1
I believe all FBI reports go to the White House Chief Council.
The recurring attitude at the White House is "we don't need no stinkin' clearances". Once the facts are revealed as in Mr. Wray's case, the WH denies, distorts and degrades?
18
If you cant get a security clearance after 3 months or 6 at most, you should be fired to demoted such that you don't come into contact with classified materials.
That this guy handled classified material for 11 months after it was clear there were problems and that Kushner, a year later still doesn't have clearnance but reads the top secret stuff that Trump can't be bothered to read, is alarming and seems illegal.
67
I think you are completely paranoid! Remember that he is son-in-law of Mr. Trump who is a true Mensch. Throughout his life, Mr. Trump has stood for honesty, integrity, fairness, and most of all adherence to the facts. Rest assured that without sharing these very qualities with Mr. Trump, he would have never been welcome into Trump's family.
I am certain Mr. Kushner is too busy to read any of "the secret stuff". He is too upright to do that, even when they are related to financial matters and could come handy in saving his floundering businesses. And I am 100% sure he would not pass any of that "secret stuff" to any "close family friend" who happens to be living in Jerusalem!
Kelly and McGahn decided that the benefit of having a competent staffer outweighed the security and morality risks. That they'd take such a risk shows just how few competent staffers there are. Trump was fine with that so long as they weren't caught. They were, so Trump's mad.
Trump's never going to comment generally on the scourges of domestic abuse and sexual harassment. If he did we'd see the parade of women who have called him on it with his words superimposed.
27
Perhaps McGahn provided that information to all the appropriate parties and nobody cared. It's not like anyone there has a moral compass. And maybe it is even a "safe place" for those that physically abuse their spouses.
News-flash! Stores within 50 mile radius of Washington, DC out of fire-extinguishers as White House buys all stock available for the pants-on-fire amongst staff.
Reports also of new Presidential aide/body-man wearing bandolier-style carrier with mini-extinguishers following the President around the building and carrying a fire-blanket over arm.
14
And Trump's approval ratings inch above 40%. The normalization of the dysfunctional and pathological continues at the speed of social media. Competency, honesty, integrity . . . . apparently they ain't what they used to be.
25
I despise this administration.
101
Is there a single thing this White House has done that wasn't a lie, an ethics violation, a cover up or a straight up crime? My God, they can't even lie with the slightest bit of competence. Watching Huckabee Sanders, you can watch the last shred of her soul curling up and dying as the spews one lie after another after another after another. How she faces her children at the end of the day I have no idea.
If there is any justice in this world, there will be a progressive tsunami that hits the GOP with the force of a billion trailer trucks full of dynamite this year and in 2020.
49
Hear, hear - well said!
The Trump Administration lies about employing in the Oval Office a wife beater who did not have a full security clearance. Not exactly a "stop the presses" moment, is it? Perhaps Porter can get a job in Trump's office at the Kremlin.
8
They lie all the time and are still not good at it. They really are hopeless at everything.
30
By firing Mr. James Comey, the FBI's director, and then forcing FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe to retire - well ahead of time - Mr. Trump has been seeking a direct confrontation with FBI. One could speculate why Mr. Trump has been so keen to provoke such a confrontation. Could this be related to Mr. Mueller's inquiry? Is he trying to set the stage for labelling any damaging revelation coming out of that inquiry as "fake news", something that FBI has cooked up out of spite?
Until yesterday, possibly knowing Mr. Trump's state-of-mind, the FBI was doing its best to avoid a clash with the WH. But then somethings did change yesterday. The FBI did not seem to worry anymore of being accused of bias or impartiality toward the WH. Mr. Wray, the new FBI director, came out swinging, giving a thorough dress down of the WH over Rob Porter's security clearance and his domestic violence saga. One has to wonder why the sudden change of heart?
If I have to guess, this change of heart could be an indication that Mr. Mueller's inquiry has hit something really big! So big, that no one would bother listening, even for a millisecond, to any unfounded accusation of FBI. I just hope that this is not just my wishful thinking.
29
Hmm .. between a rock and a hard place . Despite years of hating the FBI, I believe them .
13
This is the FBI's way of getting even for all that the White House has put them through.
7
If so, the WH deserves what it gets.
They are reaping what they have sown.
1
It's entirely possible. No doubt the files dropped on an empty desk. Can't seem to keep any help over there.
3
DT lies, DT covers up, DT is corrupt.
13
Who in the Trump White House is tasked with keeping up with all of the lies? Trump should fire that person.
3
At least one person is not kowtowing to the Trump spin!
7
Does the NYT and the Democratic Party, redundant I know, really want to move the United States to a justice system where one is GUILTY BY ALLEGATION? Should the US disband the courts and leave it to the Democratic Party bosses and the NYT to tell the people who is guilty and who is innocent after an allegation is made?
1
Since I work with victims of domestic violence and have done so for several years, I am certain that nobody (a) makes these allegations for no reason and (b) gets a restraining order without a showing of demonstrable proof the allegations contained in the request for a restraining order are true. These ladies did not just 'make this up' to get back at an abusive former spouse. Domestic violence hearings are heart-wrenching and are usually held only when the abused feels she has no other recourse. The proof is there in this matter also, clearly shown and vetted. Add to the fact that Mr. Porter had access to highly confidential information without a security clearance, it seems clear that his resignation (or termination) is reasonable and not capricious.
2
Having a conflict of interest is not the same as a crime. A person can legally have a business interest in a company but still be in conflict with federal laws with respect to being.the administrator of a federal program.
Wow. Stunning. No one is saying anything remotely like that. The allegations (by the way, somewhere along this sordid affair, a judge did see enough evidence to issue a restraining order against Porter) needed to be investigated further by the White House, not swept under the rug. Also, these people have been accused of violent crimes. Was no one worried about the personal security of other staffers? Of the President?
1
To quote Hillary Clinton: "What difference does it make?" Porter is rightfully gone.
4
Porter is rightfully gone, but only because he resigned. Not because those who should never have allowed someone without a proper security clearance, removed him. Those who lied about Porter, and what they knew, and those who concealed the truth - they are still there.
2
@Details, I guess you missed the irony and the reference to a SecState who was "still there" when she made that statement.
will the lies ever stop?
9
Grand Old Prevaricators. Groundhog Day, all over again.
I look at clips and videos of Barack Obama and want to weep that he and Michelle are not still in the White House. Integrity, intelligence, insight, true concern about others..."those were the days, my friend, we thought they'd never end..."
52
Et tu Raj Shah? Is there a single person in this White House who has not been caught lying?
14
Ruh roh! Time for a Yuge military ditraction and loyalty parade in front of Trump Tower, where the Golden tank will fire (at) Wray (if he's not yet been fired by you-know-who).
7
You are kidding, brother Bill. A military parade in front of Trump Tower would send his massive ego into the stratosphere!
More lies from the White House. Why does anyone trust anything from the Trump Administration?
8
Is there ANYTHING this administration does not lie about?
15
The only recognizable competence on display in this White House is constant, daily lying, misdirection, and promotion of of false facts and half-truths. There is not a single person in the building that seems capable of telling the truth no matter how small on any topic. These people are professional liars and carnival barkers. Lock them all up!
14
Story idea of the New York Times: how many staff members, in addition to Jared Kushner, currently working in the White House do not have security clearances? What is the delay?
21
Why is it against the law to lie to the FBI or Congress but it's ok to lie to the people (who elected you)?
12
In the USA, political campaigns have freedom of speech. It's safe to assume that Trump is always campaigning for 2018 and 2020. Once elected, our politicians are judged by their actions more than by their words.
There are two types of Republicans - Republicans ans Putin Republicans. Sen. Jeff Flake is a Republican and not a Putin Republican, Rep. Devin Nunes definitely is a Putin Republican. Sen. McCain is definitely not a Putin Republican, Sen. Lindsay Graham may well be a Putin Republican, it is obvious that Sen. Grassley and Speaker. Paul Ryan are Putin Republicans. We know Trump is a Putin puppet. So is Page. What is it that Putin has on these guys? And all the Tea Party enablers are Putin Republicans of the first rank.
20
This demonstrates a striking lack of personal loyalty of FBI director Wray to Donald Trump. Perhaps he's the one who should lose his job.
In related issues, email, Benghazi, tan suit...
4
The FBI Director owes his loyalty to the rule of law and the American people, not to the President
7
Seriously?!
1
Really?
Your sarcasm meter needs a new battery.
The only people who believe the White House are the misogynists, the racists, the one percenters, and the fanatical, die-hard, anti-government folks. They are having a field day, fulminating discord all over the right-wing media spectrum.
Nobody else is fooled any more. November 2018, please hurry up. Millions of us are extremely eager to vote!
17
I was wondering why the Porter story isn't going away. If I operate from the facts that he is a wife beater, and I do believe he is. The followup question is why was he hired as POTUS Staff Secretary, how he was vetted and who approved the decision? The whole 'who knew it & when number' re-surfaces again. I don't know why I'm surprised, and indeed resigned to the lack of judgement of this administration. If the administration is blind to the stench in its own front yard, it must be a real pig sty out back, in the attic and basement. In a normal world, heads would roll for this nonsense, that today this is business as usual is beyond the pale.
12
The little bird that let the Daily Mail know about Rob Porter is most likely a source in the FBI. They will have their pound of flesh and then some- very foolish of our president to toy with the the FBI. Remember when Joe McCarthy took on the Army- that didn’t work out for him either!
8
Or is it one small part of a the death by a thousand cuts conceived, orchestrated and executed by one very dispossessed and angry S Bannon.
3
We now have EVIDENCE that the White House is OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE!
13
Well, if Mr. Donald J. Trump wouldn’t have been so worried about Russia, and spending his time trying to schmooze with and manipulate James Comey, to try to save his own skin, he might have been more attentive to other things.
Can you imagine any business keeping Trump and his stooges employed?
9
What “security clearance?” It doesn’t matter! Trump believes the guy is innocent anyway! Misogyny “trumps” reasonable ethics and judgement in this administration every time! BTW did anyone tell Hope Hicks?
8
Wray's defense of the FBI is a single bright spot these days. Everything this Administration touches turns to rot.
14
How can you tell if anyone in the Trump Regime is Lying??? They are still breathing. Period.
11
All these men out of Central Casting sure are vicious.
3
John Kelly, supposed to be an honorable upright man; just another Trumpist liar. God help us!
9
WH: Hey FBI, Check Porter.
FBI: He’s a problem— domestic abuse.
WH: That’s all? That’s no disqualifier — look at...never mind. Hire him!
Later...
WH: We were as shocked as anyone to learn about these allegations. Poor guy... he’s going through a lot.
Sanders: There is no place in WH for domestic abuse.
Trump: Allegation can ruin a career...
7
So the White House lied about this. I'm shocked, shocked I tell you!
10
Come on out Sarah and lie to us some more!
12
That's what this White House does: they lie.
7
It appears that the hashtag #What'shehiding applies to the entire White House administration.
3
Porter is nothing but an honorable guy
Russia didn't do a thing to help Prince Donny
There will be no problem with the upcoming election.
And Prince Donny is wearing a beautiful suit and isn't at all prancing around naked.
Oh, and FBI Director Wray won't be fired for refusing the affirm the White House fibs.
3
Silly NYT. Mr. Wray did not "contradict" the White House. He merely presented "alternative facts."
3
Once again, the Trump White House proves itself to be the "gang that couldn't shoot straight".
3
....and thank God for that! Imagine if they could!!
Lies, Lies and more Lies.
Lies in the morning, more lies in the afternoon.
Lie again before you go to sleep.
And Lie again when you awake in the morning.
Is ANYONE in the Trump Administration allowed to tell the truth?
4
So, Director Wray, how long have you been with the FBI, not counting today?
Now, can the WH please put Jared Kushner and all the other aids that have not been granted full clearance on furlough please?? or do they still remain unhinged?
18
Without question, I believe the FBI.
25
This is a no-brainer - fire Christopher Wray! Problem solved...
3
A truly bizaare aspect of this latest scandal is that there was a strong possibility that Porter was to be promoted to Deputy Chief of Staff. I mean, hello?
13
I do not understand how so many of the aides & acolytes to Trump have no clearance & everyone is okay with it. In another time they would have been given the boot. But wait... that just leaves Trump
14
More palace intrigue instead of policy discussions.
Quelle surprise... - not really.
But the faux resistance, more aptly called Assistance, is just fine with government corruption, intelligence agencies influencing politics, and Orwellian propaganda passing for "news," as long as it brings down the dreaded Trump.
In the meantime they give Trump, aka the Russian puppet, increased spying powers, more money for the war budget, and further deregulation of Wall Street...
The self-anointed 'Left' have become FBI apologists.
How the mighty have fallen.
5
I wonder whether the GOP realizes what a mess they have gotten into with Trump. Every one of Trump's defenders has wrecked their own reputation. But then maybe the GOPer do not care about that. but then maybe the voters will vote out the GOP on Nov. 6 to start the process of ridding the US of Trump.
Never again can any sane person tell us that "Business people should run the government', since the response will be "TRUMP"
16
It might be ok if tthe business person is actually talented at business rather than self-promotion.
Nothing has changed in a year except the clock. Trump succeeded in mobilizing enough "heads stuck in the sand" voters from the "right" stated to be sworn in as President, but the American voters themselves are the problem. We all know who they are, in detail. And we all know the details of the millions of Americans whose votes were cast for Trump, in absentia because they were too lazy or mentally challenged to fill out can absentee ballot or show up on election day. Not a single American has stepped up to become face of a rational opposition. The DNC and Congressional Democrats and probably the Press are responsible. Find someone, Hillary, Bidon, Franken, whomever to respond to every Trump assertion as the spokesperson we are desperate to hear.
9
Yes, I use one of my Trump-voting relatives as the bell-weather and check in with him from time to time. So far he is still backing Trump and believes there is some huge conspiracy against him led by the media, Democrats, intelligence community and FBI/DoJ. I can't reason with him because all the facts out there are "fake news" in his mind. He is very uninformed and goes totally by what Trump and far-right media says. So far no shift in his position. Let's hope things shift as people realize what is right in front of them is true.
5
All I want to know is if Trump steps over the line will he be dealt with and his followers, Brown Shirts in Germany, be made to know no matter who is in office ,what this country says it stands for will be taken care of pronto. And those like Nunes be charged with treason for leaking. I really refuse to think 535 men are beholden to any one man. Headlines need to fly with articles on this danger.
7
"Mr. Wray said he was “quite confident” that established protocol was followed."
Why isn't Mr. Wray able to undeniably prove that established protocol was followed? Further, why is it that the FBI doesn't yet seem to understand whom they are dealing with? Nowadays, when the FBI speaks, people just keep eating.
2
Anthony asks "why is it that the FBI doesn't yet seem to understand whom they are dealing with?"
Anthony. the FBI is dealing with the American people. They know this, even if the President does not.
1
This is why Trump’s lawyers don’t want him talking to Mueller.
13
I wouldn't be surprised if the Trump White House simply misplaced the report and then forgot about it. But more likely yeah, what you thought - they didn't care as long as Robbie was all trump-ho. that's Gung-ho but for the trump era, just to be clear.
4
While it is true that there is a ig backlog of pending clearances in the US Government, the FBI has a special team and process for White House clearances.
They move to the top of the list and are processed within 45 days. Usually faster.
I think the core problem is Kushner's clearance. It would have been at the very top of the list in January 2017, with the investigation completed the Ides of March 2017.
I suspect it ran into three problems: messy financial stuff verging on criminal, duious contacts with dubious Russians and Kushner lying about both of these to FBI investigators. Any one of these could disqualify. All three would be poison.
So Donald finds out last March that son in law cannot proceed to a proper clearance. He uses he personal authority to retain Kushner on an interim clearance.
Meanwhile, another 42 WH staff encounter clearance problems. Since DJT won't pull Kushner's clearance, he cant pull the others.
This is a circular trap with no nice way out.
18
They probably sent it to the White House in March but no one read it to the president until last month.
4
I can't understand why none of the cable news talking heads or the NYT has connected the dots or even asked the question. This isn't primarily about a failing among Gen. Kelly or WH Counsel McGahn. It's about Donald Trump clearly knowing about Porter's documented record of spousal abuse and yet clearly not caring. Not one whit. There is zero chance Trump didn't know about Porter's record. McGahn, as WH Counsel, would've been derelict in duty not to have personally informed the president of this issue once it was brought to his attention. Same with Kelly. They had to have told him. Period. Full stop. Given that assumption, the clear logic says that Trump directed his minion Gen. Kelly to keep Porter on and likely told McGahn to shut his yap about the issue. That Kelly and McGahn complied with this order tells you everything you need to know about their moral character. The reason Kelly is now tied up in knots looking like a misogynistic fool is because Trump asked him to lie about the events surrounding Porter's hire and timeline. Sadly, Kelly agreed. And now that Gen. Kelly has been hung out to dry and is twisting in the wind for all the world to see, he has only himself to blame. All outrage in this sad chapter should be directed at Trump. All sorrow should be reserved for Porter's ex-wives/girlfriend, as well as all those (men and women) required to report daily the hostile work environment Trump has created and Gen. Kelly and Counselor McGahn have enabled.
18
Surprised about yet another White House lie? Of course not. But sickened and outraged by trump's continual lies, corruption and anti-American values and allegiances? Every day until he's out the door.
9
Now why am I not surprised by that news? Maybe because this is the most incredibly uncredible administration in history.
7
What a joke. We are the laughing stock of the world. They are teaching our children that it's OK to lie...especially if you don't get caught. But if you do, keep lying.
12
Headline should read that FBI "Corrects" the White House -- it's not a contradiction if they are revealing a lie and presenting the truth.
7
Can anyone in the current White House walk a straight line?
What seems to be the problem?
6
Nothing like a bit of FBI to get Trump worked up in the morning ;-)
2
Americans want to have the same information be revealed regarding Kushner. Oh; and Trumps tax statement. That too.
24
The F.B.I. cannot release a citizens tax return to the public, not even the I.R.S. can do that. Tax returns can be used as evidence of wrong doing in a case at law.
The 2 questions that have to be asked are why is this administration promoting people that they clearly have evidence should not be promoted and are they only accepting people that will swear loyalty to Trump and not the U.S.
If so what is this administration's agenda?
14
My watch and our clocks at the school were I teach never agree either. By all rights then I shouldn’t even be alive in light of such a grevious discrepancy. Is this all the FBI does any more? That easily explains 9/11 then.
"My watch and our clocks at the school were I teach never agree either."
Perhaps. But at least they were independently correct at least twice a day. That is infinitely more than Trump and his minions.
1
You have no factual, reasoned response so you instead said a snarky thing. Are you OK with Trump and the White House lying about everything large and small? This is not a matter of information being out of sync. It is deliberate lying by the White House.
2
Why believe anything coming from the White House. They have all spent the year either lying, defending the lies of Trump or evading the truth.
The reality is that there is nothing that the FBI can gain from giving mis-information. They are the ones with the proof. But the White House has everything to gain in their lying. And it will continue to be the case.
14
This is not surprising or contradictory. Trump learned that Porter was not accused of colluding with Russians and only was accused of abuse of two ex-spouses, which he denied. Why worry? Then again if that little thing is sufficient cause for dismissal, that might apply to... so he supported Porter.
2
At this level of government, security clearances seem to be no more than a formality. How many people lost security for the outing of Valerie Plame 15 years ago?
3
Note to Hollywood: When do we get to see "Trump: The Movie?" I imagine it might be quite popular at the box office. And think of all the sequels yet to come...
Now I wonder: was Porter behind some of Trump's negativity about the FBI? Now we see it was in his self-interest to discredit them.
8
Trump benefits--or at least he believes he benefits--from hiring people with tainted backgrounds because he can count on their loyalty in exchange for his acceptance of their misdeeds.
It must also bring Trump comfort to know that men such as Porter share the same level of disrespect for women that he does, validating his own behavior. Trump's staff is a good old boys and girl's club where misogyny is not only practiced by some and accepted by all, it's a prerequisite.
9
A trick he learned from Putin. If he can hold something over somebody, he owns them. Case in point...
4
Someone denied security clearance but was allowed to see top secret documents on a daily basis? Someone who could easily be a target for blackmail? In any other time other than the nightmare we are presently living in there would be serious consequences for such a breach of security and protocol.
12
This should shine a huge spotlight on Jared Kushner, who has no business having access to the most sensitive classified information under any circumstances, but especially without a permanent security clearance. He is clearly under investigation related to the Russia probe and potentially also for financial misdeeds, and could easily be a blackmail target. Not to mention that he is supremely unqualified for any role in government.
18
Donald Trump's main attack on Hillary Clinton during the campaign was based on the potential mishandling of classified information.
The hypocrisy of Trump and his administration is incredible; he has mishandled classified information with Russians in the Oval Office, with the phony Nune's memo, and by allowing people without security clearances (who could be blackmailed) to see the highest of classified information.
The Republicans in Congress have got to begin to stand up to Trump, who acts more like a mob boss than a president.
15
I believe there is an unexplored irony here.
If the only reason a wife- and girlfriend-beater cannot get a security clearance is because his dark, hidden past makes him vulnerable to blackmail, logic suggests that the violent jerk need not be fired when his secret is exposed. He is then no longer vulnerable to blackmail, at least for past offenses. His secret, while still dark, is no longer a secret.
Any future abuse will become public, very quickly. When Hope Hicks shows up for work with a black eye, it is game over (again) for Mr. Porter.
Do we want wife-beaters to hold high positions of public trust? No, absolutely not. But if the only reason from barring them from those jobs is because they are subject to blackmail… Well,I am not comfortable with my perception of irony, but there it is… Oh, and Good Luck Hope… Sounds like the name of the sailboat.
3
It's a matter of character - one who is capable of a single crime may well be inclined towards many crimes, as was the private Donald J. Trump, a landlord, business executive and business owner.
1
The past abuse would not be the only cause for blackmail. You don't know what the FBI discovered. For one thing Porter failed to mention a restraining order issued against him by a judge, so he is not completely honest. For another thing he seems to have begun a relationship with Hicks while living with another woman, so loyalty and fidelity wouldn't seem to be among his virtues.
The FBI might have decided that among other things the loser would be a candidate for compromise and blackmail by way of a honey trap.operation. Character counts, and Porter at least, among those who failed to receive a clearance, doesn't seem to have much of one. What he does have is a bad temper and lack of control, with his fists and possibly also with his mouth.
1
Thoughtful response. Yes, I agree.
The reality of Trump World is that nothing matters: all that is good and honorable about the United States alludes them. When will it stop? In Trump World coal is clean fuel, he has taken credit for the rise in the stock market (but no comments since its decline), Global Warming is non-existent and we need militarized parades modeled after North Korea and Russia. The military needs to be fortified (for what I fear will be a "conflict" with North Korea), as our nation's infrastructure disintegrates. And none of his followers seem troubled by his rhetoric. Clearly, someone else wrote his tweets regarding his latest White House departure. It was too organized and literate to be passed off as one of his tweets. And yet, why is there not outrage over Trump and his many debacles that continue to reverberate throughout the nation and the world. He has had so many meeting with Russians, which only become known to Americans when the Russian media writes about it, followed by our own media. So, why would it not be logical that the Russians are already working to interrupt our future elections. I fear for my children and my grandchildren.
4
The saddest thing about all of this is that we are not stunned, surprised or shocked at any of these revelations? How tragic.
4
When will enough be enough? The American people have been hoodwinked on an almost daily basis by this president for more than a year! There must be something that can be done. This is such an embarrassment and a moral and ethical mess. The longer it is allowed to continue the longer it will take to repair the damage.
4
The FBI had completed its investigation of Mr. Porter, and uncovered derogatory information on him. The FBI provided it's findings to the WH, which would take that information and determine for itself if Porter should be granted a complete clearance. He had temporary clearance, which allowed access to the WH, and nonsensitive data to do his job. At least that is how it is suppose to work. The final decision was in the adjudication phase of the clearance process. I believe that if this story had not made national news, Porter would still be in his job. Thank you.
2
Those pesky newspapers. If it hadn't been for them, we would not know that this guy was working on an interim clearance all this time, and that a good number of people at the WH were working on interim clearances, and the speechwriter who resigned was working on an interim clearance, and all would be well.
1
@Carol lee,
Actually the fact that Porter or anyone for that matter is working on an interim clearance is nobody's business but the government's. And furthermore that information maybe denied under FOIA for administrative reasons. The information was delibrately leaked for political reasons. Thank you.
In life, Liars never win because they keep making things up until they get caught. But in a broken democracy, liars win because an educated electorate is on vacation.
4
If I recall, there were chants of "lock her up!", about Hillary Clinton and her email server, which may have contained some secure information. Isn't what the current White House is doing much worse? They are actively permitting people, without proper clearance, to view and handle Top Secret (and higher) documents. So, "lock them up!", I guess?
3
Please give me a moment to recover from my shock at learning that the White House lied to make themselves look better.
Okay, done. What I wonder is whether domestic abuse is sufficient to withhold a security clearance. Is that all he did, or is there something more?
2
Domestic abuse makes him a target for blackmail.
2
Everyone keeps saying that but it's also that he's of such a character that he terrorizes and abuses his wives and girlfriends to the extent that they need divorces and orders of protection. He's a terrible person, that's why he shouldn't have that job. He hates women and hurts them. Wives are citizens too.
1