Chief Of Staff Kelly Wants New White House Security Clearance Rules

Chief of staff John Kelly on Friday called for an overhaul of White House security clearance standards, following criticism that a top aide was allowed to remain on the job despite allegations of domestic abuse.

The new rules come in the wake of Rob Porters' departure last week after reports that he had abused his two former wives. Porter was working as the White House staff secretary on an interim security clearance.
The ex-wives have said they shared their allegations with the FBI. FBI Director Christopher Wray said that the bureau had completed its investigation into Porter in July. The White House says the subsequent portion of the background check process, conducted by the White House personnel security office, was ongoing at the time of Porter's resignation.

The allegations against Porter, including a photo of one of the women with a black eye, rocked the White House, which gave varying accounts of who knew what and when.In a memo addressed to White House counsel Donald McGahn and others released by the White House on Friday, Kelly said, "We should — and in the future, must — do better."

Among the actions Kelly ordered is for the FBI, which conducts the background investigations for senior personnel, to hand deliver their reports to the counsel "personally upon completion." Furthermore, Kelly said, the FBI official who delivers these files should "verbally brief the White House Counsel on any information in those files they deem to be significantly derogatory."

SOURCE :- npr