Trump aide resigns after abuse allegations

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s White House staff secretary Rob Porter resigned Wednesday following abuse allegations from two ex-wives, but he won’t be leaving the West Wing until a later date.

Porter’s departure will leave a hole among the tight circle of staff members who see Trump on a near-daily basis.

Porter is close to White House chief of staff John Kelly, often traveled with Trump aboard Air Force One and was responsible for handling key documents and briefings that made it into Trump’s hands.

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders confirmed Porter is resigning, but that his departure “won’t be immediate,” adding that Porter will stay on to ensure “there is a smooth transition.”

Porter denied the allegations in a statement Sanders read to reporters Wednesday.

“These outrageous allegations are simply false. I took the photos given to the media nearly 15 years ago. And the reality behind them is nowhere close to what is being described. I have been transparent and truthful about these vile claims, but I will not further engage publicly with a coordinated smear campaign,” Porter’s statement said.

Sanders said Porter “was not pressured” to leave the White House, and his decision to leave was “personal” and “made on his own.”

Porter’s resignation came after photos circulated online of his first wife’s bruised face and news stories reported an alleged pattern of physical abuse in two previous marriages. The Daily Mail reported Porter was dating White House communications director Hope Hicks, a close aide to Trump.