Week of White House turmoil ensnares top officials

Hope Hicks, the White House communications director, stepped down Wednesday after it became increasingly difficult to stay out of the public glare. Statements she had made for President Donald Trump became the focus of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election, and her relationship with former White House staff secretary Rob Porter drew attention when he was accused of domestic violence by two ex-wives.

It capped a stunning rise for someone who had no political experience three years ago but became one of the president’s closest advisers.

Meanwhile, Attorney General Jeff Sessions found himself in a public spat with his boss after Trump launched a Twitter tirade Wednesday.

Trump tweeted: “Why is A.G. Jeff Sessions asking the Inspector General to investigate potentially massive FISA abuse. Will take forever, has no prosecutorial power and already late with reports on Comey etc. Isn’t the I.G. an Obama guy? Why not use Justice Department lawyers? DISGRACEFUL!” Sessions said his office would continue to act fairly and impartially.

Also, Trump’s son-inlaw, Jared Kushner, came under increasing scrutiny for having only a temporary security clearance.

And it was revealed Friday that the Securities and Exchange Commission dropped its inquiry into a company that a month earlier had given Kushner’s family real estate firm a $180 million loan.