Fired Trump assistant couldn’t get security clearance over financial problems: report
President Trump’s personal assistant was fired after he was denied a security clearance because of financial problems related to online gambling and tax issues, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday.
John McEntee, who has worked with Trump since early in his presidential campaign, was reportedly escorted out of the White House on Monday. He left so abruptly that he reportedly left his jacket in his office.
The Secret Service is investigating McEntee over his alleged online gambling problems and “mishandling” of taxes, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing senior administration officials.
{mosads}McEntee’s duties included making sure Trump had markers to sign autographs, delivering messages to the president at his residence and ensuring the White House clocks were adjusted this past weekend for daylight saving time, The Wall Street Journal reported.
The Trump campaign announced on Tuesday that McEntee is rejoining the organization as a senior adviser.
McEntee’s departure is the latest in a series of White House staffers who have left following a change to the security clearance policy.
Kelly released a memo last month detailing changes to how security clearances would be handled after ex-staff secretary Rob Porter worked on an interim security clearance despite a background check flagging domestic abuse allegations.
Dozens of staffers, including senior adviser Jared Kushner, have since had their clearances downgraded from “top secret” to “secret.” A number of those individuals have reportedly been reassigned or fired since the changes.
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