WATCH: ‘Huge mistake’ if Kelly left White House over Porter saga, GOP senator says
A GOP senator who has been critical of the White House’s handling of abuse allegations involving former staff secretary Rob Porter says it would be a “huge mistake” if chief of staff John Kelly resigned over the controversy.
Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) told reporters on Tuesday afternoon that Kelly is doing “an extraordinarily able job for the president,” adding, “I hope he continues on with the White House. I think it would be a huge mistake if he were to step down.”
Republican Sen. Bob Corker (Tenn.) also dismissed suggestions that President Trump’s top aide should step down due to the Porter situation, saying, “I have a lot of confidence in Gen. Kelly.”
{mosads}Last week, Kennedy decried Kelly’s “bad decision” for keeping Porter on staff as a key White House aide despite reports that Kelly knew of domestic abuse allegations against him for months.
Porter resigned as staff secretary last week after his two ex-wives told media outlets of the alleged abuse. The claims had reportedly led the FBI to delay Porter’s security clearance.
GOP Sen. Chuck Grassley (Iowa) said that only Trump can make the decision regarding Kelly going forward.
“You’re asking me a question that only the president can answer … I don’t think I ought to make comments on it,” the Senate Judiciary Committee chairman said, adding, “except that what brought this whole issue up was sexual harassment, and sexual harassment and domestic violence is wrong.”
Watch the video above to hear the senators in their own words.
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