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March 2017: The FBI submitted a “partial report” on Rob Porter to the White House.
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July: The FBI submitted a completed review in “late July.”
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November: The White House requested follow-up information from the FBI on Porter’s review.
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January 2018: The FBI “closed the file.”
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February 6th: The Daily Mail story is published, detailing Porter’s abusive marriage with his second ex-wife.
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February 7th: John Kelly called Porter “a man of true integrity and honor.” The Intercept published a story reporting that both of Porter’s ex-wives told the FBI that he abused them. Porter resigned, insisting that he is innocent. Kelly issued a second statement: “There is no place for domestic violence in our society.”
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February 8th: It’s reported Kelly knew that Porter’s permanent security clearance was on hold in “early fall” and that both of his ex-wives had made allegations against him. White House principal deputy press secretary Raj Shah said that Porter was “terminated” shortly after the “full nature” of the allegations became clear. “In this instance, in the case of Rob Porter, we relied on the background check investigative process. That process hadn’t been completed.”
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February 9th: Trump addressed Porter’s resignation, wishing him well and a “wonderful career.”
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February 10th: Trump tweets: “Peoples lives are being shattered and destroyed by a mere allegation. Some are true and some are false. Some are old and some are new. There is no recovery for someone falsely accused - life and career are gone. Is there no such thing any longer as Due Process?”
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February 11th: Kellyanne Conway said that Trump was “very disturbed” by the allegations against Porter.
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February 12th: Sarah Huckabee Sanders refused to explain why Trump hasn’t offered a statement clarifying his tweet.
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February 13th: FBI Director Chris Wray told the Senate Intelligence Committee that the bureau completed its background investigation on Porter in July 2017, responded to a follow-up request in November, and then closed its file in January 2018. The timeline contradicts the White House’s February 8th statement that the background check “process hadn’t been completed.”
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