Rob Porter A News Today

Releases -- >> this is the first amendment act. this is speaking truth to power. this is not us going low. going low is donald trump trying to ban muslims and ban transgender americans from our military, defending rob porter a man who beat his two exwives. donald trump demonizing attacking our press that is going low. going high is fighting for the values of this country. thats what progressives are all about. sounds big here. we are the patriots in this fight. thats how i feel. when i speak to ...

Wouldnt put any money on this because this is a very tight vote, tighter than anything weve seen in a long time. >> i can imagine the anxiety and the stress in that room right now. i also imagine the point here is for federal workers when theyre wake up, they know whether or not theyre going to be going to work. as of now, 5:00 in the morning, the government is currently shut down until the house decides whether or not theyre going to pass this bill or not. jake sherman, thanks for the update. w...

John kelly e-mailed white house employees last night assuring them that the administration takes matters of domestic violence very seriously, but there are lingering questions over what kelly knew and when concerning the allegations against porter. meanwhile, one of rob porters ex-wives is speaking out to nbc news. white house correspondent kristen welker has the story. take a listen. >> referee: the white house calling talgzs of abuse against top aid rob porter serious, disturbing and upsetting...

Mcgahn says that -- or theres -- theres a -- okay. theres reporting that don mcgahn knew of, you know, discrepancies with the ex-wives between porter, but he didnt know the full extent of that. so it would be interesting to find out how much people did know in the white house and when they found it out. >> and as you mentioned, as is often the case with domestic abusers, there are two personas. theres the person at home and then theres the person and the face that they present to the world. obvi...

Really is the kind of reality tv white house. the continued questions about around what white house officials knew about the allegations of domestic abuse against one of president trumps closest aides, the "washington post" is reporting that white house counsel don mcgann knew about the accusations against staff secretary rob porter a year ago. but allowed him to remain in his post because he viewed him as a professional voice within the west wing. according to people familiar with the matter. t...

Had an interim security clearance with access to some of the most sensitive materials to cross the presidents desk. >> the background investigation was not completed. there was not a thumbs up or thumbs down. >> one of porters ex-wives is speaking out to nbc news. jennifer willoughby says porter w was physically and emotionally abusive to her, concerns she says she shared with the fbi last year when they were conduct his security check. >> i shared with them the details in the articles that have...

>> we had been fighting. rob followed me to the shower and pulled me out of the shower to continue the rage. immediately, saw how scared i was and recognized what he was doing and released it. that was a moment when i realized he didnt have control. >> when you say abusive, do you mean physically abusive? do you mean verbally abusive? what was he like as a husband? what was his behavior? >> for my marriage, i would say it was strongly verbally and emotionally abusive. a lot of attacks on my char...

Mcgahn did not change his findings, nor did he act in september when he learned that the domestic violence claims were delaying porters security clearance or in november when porters former girlfriend, who works for the administration, contacted him about these allegations. one former white house official tells nbc news that chief of staff john kelly also reportedly knew about the allegations of domestic abuse for months. kelly also reportedly knew porter would be denied a full security clearanc...

These allegations yesterday. >> the statement changed from john kelly yesterday morning to the statement yesterday evening. he said based on new allegations. but what changed yesterday, absent a photograph, in terms of new allegations? >> well, i think what i just referenced, the reports had additional allegations. they had more information. >> so to be clear, what was so shocking that had changed? you said it was shocking. >> yeah. its the full nature of the allegations, particularly the images...

Public, and you want to lead by example, particularly if you want to be on the staff of the president of the united states, you cannot beat the hell out of your spouse. it is unlegal. and it is immoral. and stepping aside, in my judgment was the right decision by mr. porter. >> lets talk about this. joining us now from washington, capitol hill reporter molly.hooper. i have to say, i think youre probably as surprised as i am. so astounding to find out who knew what when as this story is unfolding...