Page 2 - Rob Porter A News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

Had an interim security clearance with access to some of the most sensitive materials to cross the president's desk. >> the background investigation was not completed. there was not a thumbs up or thumbs down. >> one of porter's 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 come out. >> one of the questions was could he potentially be blackmailed? >> i believe the peopl...

>> 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 didn't 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 character and my intelligence, things that i felt to be true about myself were systemmatic k -- systema...

Mcgahn did not change his findings, nor did he act in september when he learned that the domestic violence claims were delaying porter's security clearance or in november when porter's 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 clearance by the fbi, but allowed porter to remain in his role. kelly initially defended porter in a state...

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. it's the full nature of the allegations, particularly the images. >> so in the wake of the allegations last night, kelly sent an internal e-mail to white house sta...

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. >> let's talk about this. joining us now from washington, capitol hill reporter molly.hooper. i have to say, i think you're probably as surprised as i am. so astounding to find out who knew what when as this story is unfolding from don mcgahn to john kelly specifically and then john kelly standing business hi statement sti...