Politics

FBI Director Blows A Gaping Hole In The White House’s Rob Porter Story

Saagar Enjeti White House Correspondent
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The FBI provided a completed background investigation into disgraced former staff secretary Rob Porter in July 2017 and closed its file into the matter in January 2018, according to its director Christopher Wray, challenging claims from the White House that Porter’s background check was interim and ongoing.

Porter resigned Feb. 7 after a pair of stories detailing his alleged abuse of his ex-wives and former girlfriend. The stories included graphic images of abuse.

“The FBI submitted a partial report on the investigation in question in March, and then a completed background investigation in late July,” Wray testified.

“Soon thereafter we received requests for follow-up inquiry, and we did the follow-up and provided that information in November,” he continued, “And then we administratively closed the file in January and then earlier this month we received some additional information, and we passed that on as well.”

(L-R) FBI Director Christopher Wray, CIA Director Mike Pompeo, and Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats wait to testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, February 13, 2018. REUTERS/Aaron P. Bernstein

(L-R) FBI Director Christopher Wray, CIA Director Mike Pompeo, and Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats wait to testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, February 13, 2018. REUTERS/Aaron P. Bernstein

White House deputy press secretary Raj Shah told reporters on Feb. 8 of Porter, “His background investigation was ongoing. He was operating on an interim security clearance. His clearance was never denied, and he resigned.”

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