Tonight, several developing stories as we come on the air. The white house aide who is out of a job tonight. And new questions about what the white house knew and when. Rob porter, one of the president s closest aides, two exwives coming forward with allegations of Domestic Abuse. Both were interviewed by the fbi for his security clearance. And now, our correspondent asking, what did chief of staff john kelly know. How the white house is answering that tonight. The stock market plunge, dropping more than 1,000 points today. Were live on wall street. Breaking now. The voting at this hour on capitol hill. Will there be a Government Shutdown . The major winter storm. There could be a foot of snow in chicago and detroit, among other places. Alerts across several states tonight. It then moves east. Competition begins at the olympics. The u. S. Victory already. And the victory lap here at home
tonight. A heros welcome in philly. And omarosa, who met the president on his reality show, then hired in the west wing. Tonight, what shes about to reveal on national television, and what the white house is now saying about that. Good evening. And its great to have you with us here on a very busy thursday night. And we begin with that shakeup at the white house. A top aide to the president is now gone tonight, after multiple allegations of Domestic Abuse from two exwives. Staff secretary rob porter, often at the president s side, was defended by chief of staff john kelly as a, quote, man of true integrity and honor. Hes now resigned. These photos of porters first wife who claims that black eye was just one case of physical abuse. Tonight, abc news has learned that both of those women were interviewed by the fbi for his security clearance months ago. So, what did the white house know . Abcs senior White House Correspondent cecilia vega leading us off. Reporter tonight, the president s staff secretary, rob porter, is out. Abruptly packing up his office, a day after the white house said he would not leave immediately. The west wing in crisis mode after two of porters exwives came forward to publicly accuse him of Domestic Violence. His first wife, colbie holderness, sharing this photo, showing her black and blue eye, saying porter punched her in the face more than a decade ago. Both women tell abc news they told the fbi about porters alleged abuse during his White House Security clearance background check in early 2017. His second wife, jennie willoughby, telling the Washington Post she did not hold back. I told them all of the details of my marriage, including verbal and emotional abuse. Reporter when the story first broke, white house aides praised porter, one of the president s top aides, who is also romantically linked to White House Communications director hope hicks. The president and chief of staff have had full confidence
and trust in his abilities and performance. Reporter white house chief of staff john kelly called porter a man of true integrity and honor. But last night, with that picture of porters first wife out in public view, kelly issued a second statement, saying that he was shocked by the new allegations and that there is no place for Domestic Violence. But kelly adding, i stand by my previous comments and believe every individual deserves the right to defend their reputation. And now, sources tell abc news, high level white house officials have actually known about the accusations against porter for months. So what did kelly know and when did he know it . He became fully aware about these allegations yesterday. Im not going to get into the specifics. Reporter are you saying the chief of staff of this white house had no idea that rob porters two exwives had domestic violation allegations against him, when they made those claims to the fbi, john kelly did not know that . How is that possible, the chief of staff did not know that . The chief of staff does not get detailed updates about what may or may not have been
alleged. This is a process, it involves a thorough investigation. And as i went through the process, it involves looking at not just accusations, but denials. Reporter jennie willoughbwi, who filed for an emergency protective order in 2010, paints a disturbing picture. He came and grabbed me by the shoulders here and pulled me out of the shower in a rage. Reporter colbie holderness, seen here on her wedding day, told the online publication the intercept, he would lay on top of me, shaking me or rubbing an elbow or a knee into me. He graduated to choking me, not ever hard enough to make me pass out or, frankly, to leave marks, but it was frightening and dehumanizing. She also tells abc news that in late 2016, she was contacted by another woman who shared her own story of what she called repeated abuse at porters hands. The woman telling her, he can go from being the sweetest, kindest person to a complete
abusive monster in minutes. It is unbelievably hard to watch him continue to rise and ascend in politics while everyone around me thinks hes just this wonderful guy. Abc news has not spoken with her. Porter denies abusing his exwives, saying, these outrageous allegations are simply false. I took the photos and the reality behind them is nowhere close to what is being described. Mr. President , any comment on the resignation of rob porter . Reporter the president today refusing to answer questions. Mr. President , when did you learn about the allegations against rob porter . Reporter but from his aides, a rare admission of fault. I think a 0 lot of individuals were involved with the white house response to this, myself included. I think a lot of us could have done better. President not taking quells on this, as we saw there a moment ago. Lets go live to cecilia say fwa. You reported senior white house officials did know about the allegations for months, but do we have any idea when President Trump found out . Reporter no, david. We still do not know for sure. What the white house said today is that the president only learned about these questions over rob porters security
clearance as these Domestic Violence allegations surfaced this week in the press. The white house says that the president was saddened and surprised. As for these questions about john kelly, the white house still says the president has confidence in him. David . Cecilia vega, our thanks to you again tonight. And as the white house was riding out this latest storm, traders on wall street were riding out the latest plunge in the doug. The dow losing more than 1,000 points today, sinking below 24,000, down 10 in two weeks. Thats whats considered an official correction now. But with unemployment low and a strong economy, whats really behind this . And what does it mean for your retirement, your 401 k . Abcs linzie janis tonight at the New York Stock Exchange. Reporter the look on their faces says it all. Anxious traders on wall street as the dow closed more than 1,000 points lower. Coming on top of mondays massive selloff, the largest oneday drop in history, the dow is now down 10 from its high in january. Thats considered an official correction. Tonight, investors tell abc news
the fast and furious selloff is actually about anxiety the economy is doing too well too quickly. And fears the Federal Reserve may have to hike rates more aggressively this year in order to keep inflation under control. The real season is that we get good news, it suggests that maybe our economy might be overhe overheating. Reporter the president tweeting after mondays losses. In the old days, when good news was reported, the stock market would go up. Today, when good news is reported, the stock market goes down. Big mistake. Tonight, some economists also say the president s tax cuts could actually be adding to all of this, by stimulating an already improving economy. And the question, who pays for those cuts later on . Still, if you put 1,000 in a 401 k one year ago, the average investor would still be up about 12 , meaning that would now be worth about 1,125. Linzie janis keeping it in perspective there for us. Shes on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange tonight. And investors are saying this might be here to stay . Reporter thats right, david. Many telling us this correction is a reality check, that rock bottom Interest Rates may be over. And when Interest Rates move higher, stocks can often move in the opposite direction. David . We do know that. Linzie janis, thank you. Theres also developing headline from the hill at this hour. Hard to believe, but this country is on the verge of yet another Government Shutdown, just hours away now. After President Trump saw, lets have a shutdown, senate leaders, of course, came one a plan of their own. No daca, no dreamers, no wall. Putting that off until later. But tonight, one senator is still talking, standing in the way of the vote, and then, of course, theres the house, too. Just hours left for all of this to pass. Is this about to happen all over again . Mary bruce on the hill tonight. Reporter with a possible shutdown just hours away, and a bipartisan budget deal on the table, House Speaker paul ryan tried to get his party on board. You get some things you like and you give the other side things they like. Reporter the deal, which
comes with a halftrillion dollar price tag, boosts defense and domestic spending, including billions for infrastructure, opioid treatment and the Childrens Health insurance program. But for many conservative republicans, the huge increase in spending is a nonstarter. This spending bill is a debt junkies dream. Reporter what do you make of this deal . Reckless, totally reckless. Reporter many House Democrats are opposed, too. They want a promise to vote to protect dreamers, undocumented immigrants brought here as children. Minority leader nancy pelosi making her case on the house floor for a recordbreaking eight hours. Im not finished yet. Reporter even the speaker was wowed. That was pretty darn impressive. Reporter pelosi is demanding a Firm Commitment for a vote on immigration. Today, ryan offered this promise. To anyone who doubts my intention to solve this problem and bring up a daca and Immigration Reform bill, do not. Reporter but thats not enough for pelosi and many democrats. Tonight, they are standing firm. All right, mary bruce live on the hill tonight for us. And mary, the clock is ticking. Hurdles in both the house and the senate tonight. Reporter david, this is going to come down to the wire. House leaders tonight are frantically whipping votes, but they are optimistic that this will ultimately pass. But first, it has to clear in the senate. And right now, republican rand paul of kentucky is blocking this vote. Hes on the floor now, railing against what he says is out of control government spending. David, this is shaping up to be another long night here on the hill. Late night ahead for mary bruce tonight. Mary, thank you. As americans brace for that possible shutdown, they are bracing for Something Else tonight, a major winter storm bearing down. And in fact, chicago and detroit could see a foot of snow, the morning rush could be very dangerous. Heavy snow starting overnight in sioux falls, south dakota. In new york, the cleanup from yesterdays storm, bracing for the new round to come. Dangerous travel, including this driver, wow, losing control on an icy road in connecticut. Rob is tracking it all for us. Reporter david, this storm is looking more aggressive all
day long. Flakes flying into Northern Illinois. This will fill in overnight. The heaviest coming in chicago after midnight. So, a good call to cancel schools there tomorrow. By 6 00 a. M. , detroit, cleveland. All day long. It hugs the i90 corridor right through central new york. Albany gets it by 6 00 p. M. Warnings up from montana to michigan. A tight gradient of 6 to 12 inches of snow across Northern Illinois through northern parts of ohio. David . Rob, thank you. Next, to south korea tonight, the first competitions of the Winter Olympics already under way. A u. S. Victory already. The Opening Ceremony set for tomorrow, of course. But the fireworks have already started. An american figure skater reportedly turning down a meeting with Vice President mike pence. And a flap over who will carry the u. S. Flag in the Opening Ceremony. Abcs matt gutman, in south korea for us. Reporter the competition already under way before the Opening Ceremony. In curling, two americans siblings besting a pair of russians. The official russian team banned
because of a massive doping scandal in the 2014 olympics. The russian curlers wearing uniforms identifying them as olympic athletes from russia. And a day after that massive military parade in north korea, its athletes set to march in the opening ceremonies. Their fo fourtime olympian, Luger Erin Hamlin winning the honor of carrying the american flag, but that decision not without controversy. The u. S. Olympic committee selecting hamlin through a coin toss after she tied with speed skater shani davis in the athleteled voting. Davis, a fivetime olympian, perhaps competing in his final olympics. Tweeting teamusa dishonorably tossed a coin to decide its 2018 flag bearer. No problem. I can wait until 2022. Blackhistorymonth2018 controversy also reaching figure skating. The u. S. Winter teams first openly gay athlete facing off against Vice President mike pence. Figure skater adam rippon reportedly refusing to meet with pence until after the games, citing the Vice President s past support of gay conversion
therapy. We interviewed rippon last month. Theres a taboo, that being gay makes you weaker, and that is absolutely not the case. Reporter the Vice President s office denied he tried to arrange a meeting. The Vice President tweeting at him today. Dont let fake news distract you. All right, so, lets get to matt gutman with us live tonight from pyeongchang. And matt, another headline. Kim jonguns sister is coming to the olympics . Reporter thats right, david. Shes scheduled to arrive in a few hours. Now, this is significant, because in addition to being head of state security and kim jonguns younger sister, she will also become the first member of the kim family ever to step foot in south korea. David . All right, youll be following it all. Matt, great to have you back at the olympics for us. A spectacle set to play out on reality tv tonight. A former white house staffer returning to reality television. Omarosa, forced out of the white house in december, after meeting the president on his reality show, the apprentice. Now, returning to her roots, this time, celebrity big brother. And offering an unflattering view of the white house. How the white house is responding tonight, and heres tom llamas. Reporter President Trump made omarosa a star on his show the apprentice. Then, he signed her up on his next big project the campaign. Every critic, every detractor, will have to bow down to President Trump. Reporter and ended up with a job in the white house. At one point, omarosa showed up to the white house wearing her wedding dress, a party van full of guests to pose for photos. Two months ago, she was fired. I never got it. Why you went to the white house with him. I felt like, it was like a call of duty. I felt like i was serving my country, not serving him. I was haunted by tweets every single day, like, what is he going to tweet next . Does anybody say to him, what are you doing . I mean, i tried to be that person and then all of the people around him attacked me. It was like, keep her away,
dont give her access, dont let her talk to him. Reporter omarosa revealing on the show big brother shes worried about the Trump White House after seeing it from the inside. You know, id like to say not my problem, but i cant say that because like, its bad. Should we be worried . Ugh. Dont say that. Because we are worried, but i need you to say no, its going to be okay. Its not going to be today. Reporter david, tonight, the white house responding, saying theyre not taking the comments seriously, but adding to the drama, saying this. Omarosa was fired three times on the apprentice and this was the fourth time we let her go. David . All right, tom llamas, our thanks to you. Theres still much more ahead on world news tonight this thursday. The case of the serial killer. New developments coming in. Police searching dozens of locations now. He was
his victims on the property. And the american father fighting to get his son back from his exwife, his inlaws arrested as they flew into the u. S. And after tom bradys super bowl loss, news tonight about his former backup. Is he now the highest paid player in the nfl . News coming in on that front. A lot more news ahead. Little things can be a big deal. Thats why theres otezla. Otezla is not an injection or a cream. Its a pill that treats psoriasis differently. With otezla, 75 clearer skin is achievable after just 4 months,. With reduced redness, thickness, and scaliness of plaques. And the otezla prescribing information has no requirement for routine lab monitoring. Dont use if youre allergic to otezla. Otezla may cause severe diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting. Tell your doctor if these occur. Otezla is associated with an increased risk of depression. Tell your doctor if you have a history
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