Sarah Huckabee Sanders insists Trump 'supports victims of domestic violence' and believes in 'due process'


On Monday, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders addressed the controversy surrounding Rob Porter, the former White House staff secretary accused of domestic violence. Porter resigned last Wednesday after the allegations against him were detailed by his two ex-wives to the Daily Mail and The Intercept. The White House initially defended him against the reports, only to backtrack once The Intercept published graphic photos of one of the women with a black eye — images Porter admitted taking.
In the aftermath of the allegations and Porter's departure, President Trump himself reminded reporters Friday that Porter "says he's innocent." He also tweeted Saturday that "lives are being shattered and destroyed by a mere allegation."
Reading from prepared remarks Monday, Sanders insisted that Trump "supports victims of domestic violence and believes everyone deserves to be treated fairly and with due process." The press corps was not placated that easily, as ABC News' Cecilia Vega asked why Trump hadn't made any statement supporting the victims. "Why doesn't the president say exactly what you just said right there?" Vega asked. Sanders maintained that she was "relaying" Trump's words as dictated to her.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Vega pressed Sanders, asking, "Does [Trump] believe Rob Porter's accusers, or are they lying?" Sanders repeated that "the president … [takes] domestic violence very seriously" and is also a firm believer in "due process." When Vega pointed out that Sanders hadn't answered her question, Sanders replied, "I'm not going to go beyond that."
Watch the exchange below. Kelly O'Meara Morales
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kelly O'Meara Morales is a staff writer at The Week. He graduated from Sarah Lawrence College and studied Middle Eastern history and nonfiction writing amongst other esoteric subjects. When not compulsively checking Twitter, he writes and records music, subsists on tacos, and watches basketball.
-
Thomas Mallon's 6 favorite books from the 80's and early 90's
Feature The author recommends works by James Merrill, Calvin Trillin, and more
-
'There are compelling arguments for and against homework'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Mamdani is promising government-run grocery stores. How would that work?
Talking Points The goal: To make food cheaper and more accessible
-
Sniper kills 2 Idaho firefighters in ambush
Speed Read A man started a wildfire, then fired a rifle at first responders when they arrived
-
Weinstein convicted of sex crime in retrial
Speed Read The New York jury delivered a mixed and partial verdict at the disgraced Hollywood producer's retrial
-
'King of the Hill' actor shot dead outside home
speed read Jonathan Joss was fatally shot by a neighbor who was 'yelling violent homophobic slurs,' says his husband
-
DOJ, Boulder police outline attacker's confession
speed read Mohamed Sabry Soliman planned the attack for a year and 'wanted them all to die'
-
Assailant burns Jewish pedestrians in Boulder
speed read Eight people from the Jewish group were hospitalized after a man threw Molotov cocktails in a 'targeted act of violence'
-
Driver rams van into crowd at Liverpool FC parade
speed read 27 people were hospitalized following the attack
-
2 Israel Embassy staff shot dead at DC Jewish museum
speed read The suspected gunman chanted 'free, free Palestine'
-
Bombing of fertility clinic blamed on 'antinatalist'
speed read A car bombing injured four people and damaged a fertility clinic and nearby buildings in Palm Springs, California