Former Trump aide Rob Porter is reportedly next in line for a House subpoena


The House Judiciary Committee is continuing with its subpoena quest as it decides whether to recommend articles of impeachment, Politico reports. This time, former White House staff secretary Rob Porter will reportedly be the recipient.
Politico described Porter, who resigned last year following allegations that he abused his two ex-wives, as a key witness in former Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into whether President Trump obstructed justice. Porter is mentioned several times throughout the Mueller report, which also cites his notes that reportedly give credence to claims that Trump tried to constrain, if not outright obstruct, the special counsel's investigation into 2016 Russian election interference.
For example, the report details how Trump instructed Porter to ask Rachel Brand, a top Justice Department official at the time, to supervise the probe; Porter refused to reach out to Brand in the end. The former White House aide was also reportedly present when Trump lambasted former White House Counsel Don McGahn for refusing to comply with Trump's directives to fire Mueller.
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.
Politico reports that Porter grew close to the president during his time in the White House and was considered a confidante, but it remains unclear whether he would defend his former boss in testimony before the committee. If he even complies, that is — the White House is expected to block Porter from appearing before Congress. Read more at Politico.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Tim is a staff writer at The Week and has contributed to Bedford and Bowery and The New York Transatlantic. He is a graduate of Occidental College and NYU's journalism school. Tim enjoys writing about baseball, Europe, and extinct megafauna. He lives in New York City.
-
Gunman kills 1 detainee, wounds 2 at ICE facility
Speed Read A sniper shot three detainees at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office before fatally shooting himself
-
Trump DOJ reportedly rushing to indict Comey
Speed Read Former FBI Director James Comey oversaw the initial 2016 investigation into ties between the Trump campaign and Russia
-
Man convicted of trying to assassinate Trump
Speed Read Ryan Routh tried to shoot President Donald Trump at his West Palm Beach golf course last September
-
Democrat wins Arizona seat, aiding Epstein drive
Speed Read Democrat Adelita Grijalva beat Republican businessman Daniel Butierez for the House seat in Arizona
-
Trump says Ukraine can win, UN nations ‘going to hell’
Speed Read In a speech to the United Nations General Assembly, the president criticized the UN and renewable energy, plus made a sudden pivot on the war in Ukraine
-
Trump DOJ shut bribery case against ally Homan
Speed read The Justice Department closed a bribery investigation into President Donald Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan
-
Charlie Kirk honored as ‘martyr’ at memorial rally
Speed Read At a service for the slain conservative activist, speakers included President Donald Trump and many top administration officials
-
Judge says DOJ misled to deport Guatemalan kids
Speed read The Trump administration was barred from deporting hundreds of Guatemalan children