Sarah Huckabee Sanders Just Held One of Her Worst Press Briefings Ever
‘We Do the Very Best Job We Can, Every Single Day’
This is day seven of the Rob Porter White House scandal and Sarah Huckabee Sanders just concluded what can only be described as one of her worst press briefings ever. That’s saying a lot.Â
There will be only limited time for questions today, says @PressSec. pic.twitter.com/IJ5N4ZlGtS
— Steve Herman (@W7VOA) February 13, 2018
The White House Press Secretary repeatedly snapped at reporters, told them they were at fault for not asking the right questions, and continued to do her best to deliver as little information as possible.
Asked, basically, if White House Chief of Staff John Kelly has been lying about what he knew about the allegations against Rob Porter and when he knew them, Sanders offered a curt response: “I can only give you the best information that I have and that’s my understanding.”
Does President Trump believe the women who accused Rob Porter of abuse?
Sarah Sanders: “The President takes all of these accusations very seriously. He believes in due process” https://t.co/Pt8AEC5gf9 pic.twitter.com/fOgSWnePEM
— CNN (@CNN) February 13, 2018
Asked if President Trump believes Porter’s ex wives who allege physical and emotional domestic abuse, Huckabee Sanders said: “The president takes all of these accusations very seriously and he believes in due process. Above everything else he supports the victims of any type of violence, and certainly would condemn any violence against anyone.”
When one reporter complained that after a week America still does not have a clear understanding of what the White House did to coverup the Rob Porter scandal, Huckabee Sanders responded, “I’ve done the best I can to walk you through that process.”
Huckabee Sanders was asked if it was appropriate for Communications Director Hope Hicks to be a part of drafting the White House’s response to the Porter scandal, as she is dating Porter, Huckabee Sanders snapped.
Sarah Sanders defends the role of White House communications director Hope Hicks, who has been dating Rob Porter, in handling the response to his ex-wives’ allegations of abuse https://t.co/egtmsUgv0p
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) February 13, 2018
“I don’t recall any of you being in the room to say specifically what comments she made or didn’t make.”
One of Rob Porter’s ex-wives said in an op-ed she “expected a woman to do better.”Â
Huckabee Sanders response? She’s doing the best she can, and “would never presume to understand anything going on with that individual, nor would I think she could presume what’s going on with me.”Â
WH press secretary Sarah Sanders defends her personal and the White House’s response concerning Rob Porter: “We’ve condemned domestic violence in every way possible” https://t.co/sF97J4Axoe pic.twitter.com/35P58erpY8
— CNN (@CNN) February 13, 2018
The scandal is getting international attention. Here, a tweet in French from a correspondent for Le Monde (click for English translation):
Sarah Sanders de nouveau sur la défensive sur l’affaire Porter, ancien bras droit de John Kelly, le chief of staff de Donald Trump. Le conseiller a démissionné pour des accusations de violences conjugales. La Maison Blanche peine à convaincre sur la chronologie des événements pic.twitter.com/O7jWnkShGM
— Gilles Paris (@Gil_Paris) February 13, 2018
UPDATE:
ThinkProgress’ Aaron Rupar notes:
Confronted on statements about Porter’s background check she made yesterday that were contradicted today in the FBI director’s sworn testimony, Sanders lamely tries to pin blame on the “personnel security office.” pic.twitter.com/rcez7uJyKt
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 13, 2018
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