Second White House official departs

A White House speech writer resigned Friday after his former wife claimed he was violent and emotionally abusive during their turbulent 21⁄ 2- year marriage — allegations he vehemently denied, saying she was the one who victimized him.

The abrupt departure of David Sorensen, a speech writer who worked closely with senior policy adviser Stephen Miller, came as the Washington Post was preparing a story about abuse claims by his ex-wife, Jessica Corbett.

Corbett told the Post she reported his behaviour to the FBI last fall as the bureau was conducting a background check of Sorensen.

White House officials said they learned of the accusations by Sorensen’s wife Thursday night, before the Post’s inquiries.

“We immediately confronted the staffer, he denied the allegations and he resigned today,” spokesperson Raj Shah said in a statement Friday evening.

In a text message to the Post, Sorensen said he stepped down because he “didn’t want the White House to have to deal with this distraction.”

Sorensen’s resignation comes two days after another administration official, staff secretary Rob Porter, departed after two ex-wives said that he physically abused them. Senior White House officials and the FBI knew about the allegations for months, raising questions about why he was allowed to remain in his post.

Administration officials said Sorensen’s position as a speech writer at the Council on Environmental Quality, a division of the Executive Office of the President, did not require a security clearance. His background check was ongoing, they said.

The FBI declined requests for comment.