Scandal Swirling Around Hope Hicks Right Now

The White House is the Swamp

You just can’t make this stuff up.

Ready?

White House Communications Director Hope Hicks is dating White House Staff Secretary Rob Porter.

Porter just resigned after being accused by both of his ex-wives of domestic abuse.

The Intercept’s Ryan Grim tweeted these photos earlier today:

Before Porter resigned the White House issued a statement in support of Porter, despite the graphic allegations that came with photos allegedly proving the reported physical domestic abuse.

Also issuing a statement supporting Porter was the office of Republican Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah.

As it turns out, Hicks allegedly helped draft the statements of support for Porter.

Some are wondering if Hicks drafted the statement from Senator Hatch – more on that in a bit.

Here we go.

On Tuesday, Trump chief of staff John Kelly “strongly defended White House Staff Secretary Rob Porter against disturbing allegations, first published in the Daily Mail, that he abused his ex-wives,” Vanity Fair’s Gabriel Sherman reports.

“Yesterday,” Sherman continues, “Porter’s second wife, Jennifer Willoughby, told the Mail that Porter called her a ‘fucking bitch’ on their honeymoon, and once pulled her naked out of the shower. In response, Kelly put out a statement calling Porter ‘a man of true integrity and honor’ and a ‘trusted professional.’ But shortly after Kelly rallied behind his colleague, Porter’s first wife came forward with additional harrowing allegations.”

Colbie Holderness, who married Porter in 2009, told the Daily Mail that Porter punched her in the face and choked her, among other alleged abuses. The article included a photo of her with a black eye. “It was not hard enough for me to pass out, but it was scary, humiliating, and dehumanizing,” she said. Porter told the Daily Mail that the allegations were “slanderous and simply false.”

Sherman writes, “last week, [Porter] emerged when the Daily Mail reported he’s dating White House Communications Director Hope Hicks.”

“In a series of crisis meetings, the statement was drafted by Hicks, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, and Kushner’s White House spokesman, Josh Raffel.”

But wait, there’s more.

In a statement Wednesday White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said, “Rob Porter has been effective in his role as staff secretary. The president and chief of staff have full confidence in his abilities and his performance.”

And, more.

Politico reports White House Chief of staff John Kelly “was previously aware of the 2010 protective order, which prevented Porter from getting a full security clearance.”

So, there was an order of protection against Porter, and he did not have a full security clearance>

And yet…

“As staff secretary, Porter handled every document signed by the president,” Politico reports.

That seems to be a problem.

Then there’s this from Business Insider.

“Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah performed a remarkable about-face on Wednesday after the second major news outlet in a row published allegations of spousal abuse against Rob Porter, Hatch’s former chief of staff.”

When the Daily Mail approached Hatch for comment on the Porter allegations, Hatch berated the outlet for publishing the claims and praised Porter as “kind and considerate” and “principled.”

“It’s incredibly discouraging to see such a vile attack on such a decent man,” Hatch said. “Shame on any publication that would print this — and shame on the politically motivated, morally bankrupt character assassins that would attempt to sully a man’s good name.”

Later, Hatch “issued a remarkably different response.

“I am heartbroken by today’s allegations. In every interaction I’ve had with Rob, he has been courteous, professional, and respectful. My staff loved him and he was a trusted advisor,” Hatch said. “I do not know the details of Rob’s personal life. Domestic violence in any form is abhorrent and unacceptable.”

Some are wondering if Hicks drafted the first hatch response.

If all this weren’t enough, The Washington Post’s Kathleen Parker, a conservative journalist reporting since 1977, is wondering how John Kelly let all this happen:

It’s only Wednesday.

Image via Wikimedia