Rob Porter
{{Short description|American lawyer and political aide (born 1977)}}
{{distinguish|text=Rob Portman, for whom Porter has worked}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2018}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Rob Porter
| image = Rob Porter in the Oval Office, 2017.jpg
| office = White House Staff Secretary
| president = Donald Trump
| deputy = Derek Lyons
| term_start = January 20, 2017
| term_end = February 7, 2018
| predecessor = Joani Walsh
| successor = Derek Lyons
| birth_name = Robert Roger Porter
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1977|10|25}}
| birth_place = Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Republican
| spouse = {{marriage|Colbie Holderness|2003|2008|end=div}}
{{marriage|Jennie Willoughby|2009|2013|end=div}}
| parents = Roger B. Porter
Ann Robinson
| education = Harvard University (BA, JD)
New College, Oxford (MPhil)
}}
Robert Roger Porter (born October 25, 1977) is an American lawyer and former political aide who served as White House Staff Secretary for President Donald Trump from January 20, 2017, until February 7, 2018. He was previously Chief of Staff for U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah.
Porter resigned his position as White House Staff Secretary after domestic abuse allegations from both of his former wives came to public attention.{{cite news|last1=Prokopandrew|first1=Andrew|title=Rob Porter's domestic violence scandal, and what it means for Trump's White House, explained|url=https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/2/8/16988560/rob-porter-allegations-resigns|access-date=9 February 2018|work=Vox |date=February 8, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180208225044/https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/2/8/16988560/rob-porter-allegations-resigns|archive-date=February 8, 2018|df=mdy-all}}
Early life
Porter was born in Boston and grew up in Belmont, Massachusetts, and Washington, D.C.{{cite news |last1=Burr |first1=Thomas |title=Taking on a 'key nerve center' of the White House |url=https://archive.sltrib.com/article.php?id=5099375&itype=cmsid |access-date=June 2, 2024 |work=The Salt Lake Tribune |date=March 27, 2017}} He is the son of Roger B. Porter, a former aide to President George H. W. Bush, who {{asof|2002|lc=y}} was IBM Professor of Business and Government at Harvard University.{{Cite news|url=https://www.harvardmagazine.com/2002/03/britain-bound.html|title=Britain-bound|date=March 1, 2002|work=Harvard Magazine|access-date=February 7, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180208062929/https://harvardmagazine.com/2002/03/britain-bound.html|archive-date=February 8, 2018|df=mdy-all}} Porter's mother Ann Porter, who died in May 2017, was Faculty Dean of Harvard's Dunster House dormitory.{{cite news |url=http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2017/5/18/college-mourns-ann-porter/ |newspaper=The Harvard Crimson |date=May 18, 2017 |access-date=February 20, 2018 |first1=Graham W. |last1=Bishai |first2=Derek G. |last2=Xiao |title=College Mourns the Loss of Dunster Faculty Dean Ann Porter }} After graduating from high school, Porter interned in the U.S. Senate.{{cite news |url=https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2001/12/harvard-leads-way-in-rhodes-scholars/ |title=Harvard leads way in Rhodes Scholars |newspaper=Harvard Gazette |date=December 13, 2001 |access-date=September 12, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913140545/https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2001/12/harvard-leads-way-in-rhodes-scholars/ |archive-date=September 13, 2017 |df=mdy-all }}
Education
He attended Harvard University,{{cite news |last1=Burr |first1=Thomas |title=Trump names Hatch chief of staff as new White House staff secretary |url=http://www.sltrib.com/home/4816172-155/trump-names-hatch-chief-of-staff |newspaper=The Salt Lake Tribune |access-date=January 18, 2017 |date=January 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116160503/http://www.sltrib.com/home/4816172-155/trump-names-hatch-chief-of-staff |archive-date=January 16, 2017 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all}} where he studied government and was president of the Harvard Republican Club and chair of Harvard Students for Bush. He graduated in 2002 with membership in Phi Beta Kappa.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/19/us/politics/rob-porter-white-house-resigned.html|title=Rob Porter's Charisma and Ambition Disguised Flare-ups of Anger|author=Rogers, Katie|newspaper=New York Times|date=February 19, 2018|access-date=February 20, 2018 }}{{cite news |last1=Dimengo |first1=Katherine |title=Phi Beta Kappa Members Named, Continuing 212-Year-Old Tradition of Recognition |url=https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2002/6/3/phi-beta-kappa-members-named-continuing/ |access-date=June 3, 2024 |work=The Harvard Crimson |date=June 3, 2002}}
After his freshman year at Harvard, he began a two-year stint as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in London. During the summer of his junior year, Porter completed an internship at the White House and worked for the Domestic Policy Council. He graduated in 2002. Porter was a Rhodes Scholar, studying Political Theory at the University of Oxford, where his thesis research focused on C. S. Lewis prior to graduation in 2005.{{Cite news|url=https://www.deseretnews.com/article/865672487/Meet-the-Mormon-helping-run-Donald-Trumps-White-House.html|title=Hal Boyd: Meet the Mormon helping run Donald Trump's White House|last=Boyd|first=Hal|date=February 2, 2017|work=Deseret News|access-date=February 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170429000622/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865672487/Meet-the-Mormon-helping-run-Donald-Trumps-White-House.html|archive-date=April 29, 2017|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}{{cite thesis |first=Robert R. |last=Porter |title=Natural law and the political thought of C.S. Lewis, Thesis |type=M.Phil. |publisher=University of Oxford |date=2004 |access-date=February 16, 2018 |url=http://solo.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/primo_library/libweb/action/dlDisplay.do?vid=OXVU1&search_scope=LSCOP_OX&docId=oxfaleph015885646&fn=permalink }} Porter then attended Harvard Law School, graduating in 2008 with his Juris Doctor.{{cite web|url=https://www.opensecrets.org/revolving/education.php?id=79284|title=Revolving Door : Rob Porter Education |publisher=OpenSecrets |access-date=February 16, 2018}}
Political career
File:Donald Trump and Rob Porter.jpg Donald Trump in the Oval Office, January 2017]]
Porter clerked for the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Porter has worked for Senators Rob Portman and Mike Lee.{{cite news |url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865671054/Hatch-aide-named-to-key-White-House-job.html|title=Hatch aide named to key White House job|last1=Romboy|first1=Dennis|date=January 13, 2017|newspaper=Deseret News |access-date=January 18, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170114193945/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865671054/Hatch-aide-named-to-key-White-House-job.html|archive-date=January 14, 2017|df=mdy-all}}
In March 2014, Porter began working for Senator Orrin Hatch. Porter was initially appointed Deputy Chief of Staff and was promoted to Chief of Staff in June of that year. Porter left the role in January 2017, to become White House Staff Secretary for President Donald Trump.{{Cite press release|url=https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2017/1/hatch-applauds-selection-of-chief-of-staff-as-senior-white-house-aide-names-senior-counsel-as-new-chief|title=Hatch Applauds Selection of Chief of Staff as Senior White House Aide, Names Senior Counsel as New Chief |publisher=United States Senator Orrin Hatch |access-date=2018-02-09|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180208184324/https://www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2017/1/hatch-applauds-selection-of-chief-of-staff-as-senior-white-house-aide-names-senior-counsel-as-new-chief|archive-date=February 8, 2018|df=mdy-all}} Porter resigned from the position on February 7, 2018, following public allegations of spousal abuse from his two ex-wives. He was succeeded on an acting basis by Derek Lyons.{{cite news |newspaper=The Hill |title=White House taps interim replacement for aide accused of abuse |access-date=February 10, 2018 |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/373219-white-house-taps-interim-replacement-for-aide-accused-of-abuse/}}
Porter and two other former Trump aides criticized Bob Woodward's book Fear: Trump in the White House in September 2018, with Porter defending the president and saying the book was "selective and often misleading" in describing the administration.{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/09/11/rob-porter-bob-woodward-fear-815345 |title=Former Trump aides break their silence on Woodward book |date=September 11, 2018 |work=Politico |access-date=June 20, 2020 }}
The Wall Street Journal published a pro-Trump opinion article by Porter in March 2019, drawing criticism from his second ex-wife who said Porter must address his personal conduct during marriage before returning to public life.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/21/us/politics/rob-porter-jennifer-willoughby-wall-street-journal.html |title=Re-emergence of Trump Aide Accused of Abuse Is 'Deeply Troubling,' Ex-Wife Says |date=March 21, 2019 |work=The New York Times |first=Annie |last=Karni |access-date=March 20, 2020 }}
The House Judiciary Committee subpoenaed Porter in August 2019 to testify regarding Trump's actions in response to the Russia investigation,{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/26/us/politics/rob-porter-judiciary-subpoena.html |title=Ex-White House Aide Rob Porter Is Subpoenaed in House Impeachment Inquiry |date=August 26, 2019 |work=The New York Times |first1=Julie Hirschfeld |last1=Davis |first2=Maggie |last2=Haberman |access-date=June 20, 2020 }} and the White House directed Porter not to testify in September 2019.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/white-house-blocks-two-former-aides-from-testifying-before-house-judiciary-committee/2019/09/16/c6a33c48-d8de-11e9-adff-79254db7f766_story.html |title=White House blocks two former aides from testifying before House Judiciary Committee |date=September 16, 2019 |newspaper=The Washington Post |first1=Rachael |last1=Bade |first2=Josh |last2=Dawsey |access-date=June 20, 2020 }}
Personal life
In 2003, Porter married Colbie Holderness; they divorced in 2008 and she said he had physically abused her multiple times throughout their marriage.{{cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rob-porter-allegations-timeline-who-knew-security-clearances/ |publisher=CBS News |title=A timeline of the Rob Porter allegations and White House responses |date=February 9, 2018 |access-date=February 16, 2018 }} In 2009, he married Jennifer Willoughby. After repeated verbal abuse, she obtained a restraining order against him in 2010. They divorced in 2013.{{cite news |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/02/07/politics/rob-porter-ex-wives-white-house/ |title=Former White House aide's ex-wives detail abuse allegations |publisher=CNN |date=February 9, 2018 |access-date=February 9, 2018 |first1=Kevin |last1=Liptak |first2=MJ |last2=Lee |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180208073125/http://edition.cnn.com/2018/02/07/politics/rob-porter-ex-wives-white-house/ |archive-date=February 8, 2018 |df=mdy-all }}
Porter had been dating White House Director of Communications Hope Hicks at the time of his resignation in 2018.{{cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rob-porter-hope-hicks-boyfriend-white-house-aide-resigning-amid-abuse-allegations/|title=White House aide Rob Porter resigning amid abuse allegations|publisher=CBS News|date=8 February 2018|access-date=8 February 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180208000559/https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/rob-porter-hope-hicks-boyfriend-white-house-aide-resigning-amid-abuse-allegations/|archive-date=February 8, 2018}}
He is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was raised a member of the church and served a full-time, 24-month mission. He became less active in his church around the time of his second divorce.
Domestic abuse allegations
In late November 2017, a girlfriend of Porter's alerted her friend, White House Counsel Don McGahn, regarding Porter's "anger problems".{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/13/us/politics/rob-porter-fbi-background-check.html|title=White House Let Rob Porter Keep Job Even After Receiving Final F.B.I. Report|last1=Davis|first1=Julie Hirschfeld|date=February 13, 2018|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=February 23, 2018|last2=Shear|first2=Michael D.}} Porter's ex-wife Willoughby had sought and received a three-day emergency protective order against him in June 2010.{{cite news|url=https://apps.washingtonpost.com/g/documents/politics/read-the-emergency-protective-order-against-rob-porter/2753/|title=Read the emergency protective order against Rob Porter|date=February 7, 2018|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=February 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180208124344/http://apps.washingtonpost.com/g/documents/politics/read-the-emergency-protective-order-against-rob-porter/2753/|archive-date=February 8, 2018|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}} Photographs of Holderness with a black eye and her detailed accounts of Porter's alleged abuse were also made public.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/rob-porter-is-my-ex-husband-heres-what-you-should-know-about-abuse/2018/02/12/3c7edcb8-1033-11e8-9065-e55346f6de81_story.html |title=Rob Porter is my ex-husband. Here's what you should know about abuse. |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=February 12, 2018 |access-date=March 2, 2018 |first=Colbie |last=Holderness }} Despite their testimonies and evidence presented, Porter denied his ex-wives' allegations and resigned from his staff secretary post after they became public.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/senior-white-house-official-to-resign-following-allegations-of-abuse/2018/02/07/49aa80b8-0c19-11e8-baf5-e629fc1cd21e_story.html|title=Senior White House official to resign after ex-wives' allegations of abuse|author1=Dawsey, Josh |author2=Reinhard, Beth |author3=Viebeck, Elise |newspaper=The Washington Post|date=February 7, 2018|access-date=February 7, 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180208131200/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/senior-white-house-official-to-resign-following-allegations-of-abuse/2018/02/07/49aa80b8-0c19-11e8-baf5-e629fc1cd21e_story.html|archive-date=February 8, 2018|df=mdy-all}} Willoughby stated "I don't want to be married to him. I would not recommend anyone to date him or marry him. But I definitely want him in the White House and the position he is in. I think his integrity and ability to do his job is impeccable."{{Cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/07/white-house-aide-rob-porter-resigns-after-allegations-from-ex-wives-397407|title=White House aide Rob Porter resigns after allegations from two ex-wives|work=Politico|access-date=February 7, 2018|date=February 7, 2018|first1=Andrew|last1=Restuccia|first2=Eliana|last2=Johnson|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180207202306/https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/07/white-house-aide-rob-porter-resigns-after-allegations-from-ex-wives-397407|archive-date=February 7, 2018|df=mdy-all}}
Porter resigned from the position of White House Staff Secretary on February 7, 2018, following public allegations of spousal abuse from his two ex-wives.Jonathan Swan. [https://www.axios.com/white-house-staff-secetary-rob-porter-resigns-abuse-allegations-9bf97afb-a59f-409f-ba74-8fb7aee20b65.html White House staff secretary Rob Porter resigns amid abuse allegations] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180207205703/https://www.axios.com/white-house-staff-secetary-rob-porter-resigns-abuse-allegations-9bf97afb-a59f-409f-ba74-8fb7aee20b65.html |date=February 7, 2018 }}. Axios. The allegations were supported by photographs of a black eye (which Porter claimed he took) and a restraining order.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/07/us/politics/rob-porter-resigns-abuse-white-house-staff-secretary.html|title=Rob Porter, White House Aide, Resigns After Accusations of Abuse|last1=Haberman|first1=Maggie|date=February 7, 2018|work=The New York Times|access-date=February 7, 2018|last2=Rogers|first2=Katie |issn=0362-4331|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180207205527/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/07/us/politics/rob-porter-resigns-abuse-white-house-staff-secretary.html|archive-date=February 7, 2018|df=mdy-all}}{{Cite web|url=https://theintercept.com/2018/02/07/rob-porter-wives-abuse-trump-aide/|title=Former Wives of Top White House Aide Rob Porter Both Told FBI He Abused Them|last1=Grim|first1=Ryan|last2=Brown|first2=Alleen|date=February 7, 2018|publisher=The Intercept |access-date=February 7, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180207185559/https://theintercept.com/2018/02/07/rob-porter-wives-abuse-trump-aide/|archive-date=February 7, 2018|df=mdy-all}} Porter has said the allegations are false and are part of a "coordinated smear campaign".{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/07/politics/rob-porter-white-house-resignation/ |title=White House aide denies abuse allegations but resigns |publisher=CNN |date=February 7, 2018 |access-date=February 9, 2018 |first1=Kevin |last1=Liptak |first2=Betsy |last2=Klein |first3=Kaitlan |last3=Collins |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180208053012/https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/07/politics/rob-porter-white-house-resignation/ |archive-date=February 8, 2018 |df=mdy-all }} The Washington Post reported that White House counsel Don McGahn had known since January 2017 about the allegations Porter's ex-wives made to the FBI, and that Chief of Staff John F. Kelly had known about the allegations since October 2017, still promoting Porter after.{{cite news |last1=Dawsey |first1=Josh |last2=Reinhard |first2=Beth |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/top-white-house-officials-knew-of-abuse-allegations-against-top-aide-for-months/2018/02/08/2faddcf2-0ce9-11e8-95a5-c396801049ef_story.html |title=Top White House officials knew of abuse allegations against top aide for months |date=February 8, 2018 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=February 9, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209042138/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/top-white-house-officials-knew-of-abuse-allegations-against-top-aide-for-months/2018/02/08/2faddcf2-0ce9-11e8-95a5-c396801049ef_story.html |archive-date=February 9, 2018 |df=mdy-all }} Post reporter Aaron Blake wrote that this development made the allegations a "full-blown scandal".{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2018/02/09/the-rob-porter-debacle-becomes-the-rob-porter-scandal/|title=The Rob Porter debacle becomes the Rob Porter scandal|newspaper=The Washington Post|first=Aaron|last=Blake|date=February 9, 2018|access-date=February 9, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209160912/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2018/02/09/the-rob-porter-debacle-becomes-the-rob-porter-scandal/|archive-date=February 9, 2018|df=mdy-all}}
Asked by reporters two days after Porter's resignation, President Donald Trump commented, "He said very strongly yesterday that he's innocent so you have to talk to him about that, but we absolutely wish him well, he did a very good job when he was at the White House."{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/feb/09/trump-defends-rob-porter-accused-of-domestic-abuse|title=Trump defends top official accused of domestic abuse: 'He did a very good job'|last=Smith|first=David|date=February 9, 2018|newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=February 9, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209183956/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/feb/09/trump-defends-rob-porter-accused-of-domestic-abuse|archive-date=February 9, 2018|df=mdy-all}} In mid-February 2018, it was reported that Senator Hatch had sent letters to Porter's former wives, apologizing for initially defending Porter in response to their accusations against him.{{cite news |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/374421-hatch-sends-apology-letters-to-porters-ex-wives-for-defending-former-aide/ |newspaper=The Hill |date=February 17, 2018 |access-date=February 18, 2018 |title=Hatch sends apology letters to Porter's ex-wives: report |first=Avery |last=Anapol }}
Kelly told reporters on March 2, 2018, that he sought Porter's resignation immediately after learning of the accusations on February 6 and regretted his handling of Porter's departure; he also said that contrary to earlier White House statements, Porter's background check had been completed by the FBI, as had been disputed publicly by bureau director, Christopher Wray.{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/john-kelly-says-resignation-of-top-aide-rob-porter-was-mishandled-1520019797 |title=John Kelly Says Resignation of Top Aide Rob Porter Was Mishandled |first=Michael C. |last=Bender |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |date=March 2, 2018 |access-date=March 5, 2018 |url-access=subscription }}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
{{commons}}
- {{C-SPAN|1012257}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=Joani Walsh}}
{{s-ttl|title=White House Staff Secretary|years=2017–2018}}
{{s-aft|after=Derek Lyons
Acting}}
{{s-end}}
{{White House Staff Secretaries}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Porter, Rob}}
Category:First Trump administration personnel
Category:Massachusetts Republicans
Category:Latter Day Saints from Massachusetts
Category:Alumni of New College, Oxford
Category:Harvard Law School alumni
Category:People from Belmont, Massachusetts
Category:People from Washington, D.C.
Category:American Rhodes Scholars
Category:21st-century Mormon missionaries
Category:American Mormon missionaries in England