‘Tough time’ for ex-aide accused of abuse: Trump

• President Donald Trump said Friday that a former aide accused of domestic abuse by two exwives had done a “very good job” at the White House, adding, “We certainly wish him well.”

Trump emphasized that former staff secretary Rob Porter maintains his innocence, and the president made no mention of the women who have reported physical and emotional abuse.

It was Trump’s first comment on the allegations against Porter, who has been one of his most trusted staffers until this week. Porter resigned Wednesday after his ex-wives’ allegations became public.

“It’s a, obviously, tough time for him,” said Trump. “He did a very good job when he was in the White House. And we hope he has a wonderful career.

“As you probably know, he says he’s innocent. And I think you have to remember that.”

The comments came the day after White House chief of staff John Kelly tried to assure staff that the Trump administration takes domestic violence “very seriously” amid mounting questions about how Porter managed to maintain a position of high influence despite the allegations.

Though the accusations became public this week, Kelly learned last fall that something was amiss with the staff secretary’s attempts to get a security clearance, according to an administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Kelly had sought information about the status of security clearance applications for top aides, and it was then he learned there were allegations against Porter from his ex-wives, said the official. Porter and Kelly later discussed it. The official said White House counsel Don McGahn was apprised of at least some of the accusations at least four times, including in January 2017, the official said. The person stressed that the FBI had at no point revoked Porter’s security clearance, which they could have done.

The White House official said staffers felt misled about how Porter downplayed the allegations.