Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) is walking back his fiery comments from Tuesday denouncing reports of domestic violence against White House senior aide Rob Porter as a “vile attack.”
In a new statement released via the White House, the Utah Senator — who formerly had Porter serve as his chief of staff — struck a very different tone than he did 24 hours earlier.
Rob Porter was Orrin Hatch’s former chief of staff.
Tuesday: Statement from Hatch (via White House) says it was “incredibly discouraging to see such a vile attack on such a decent man”
Today’s Hatch statement says he is heartbroken and didn’t know about abuse allegations. #utpol pic.twitter.com/4RDUkl6r8P— Natalie Andrews (@nataliewsj) February 7, 2018
Compare that to the Tuesday comments backing Porter and condemning the Daily Mail‘s report on domestic violence accusations levied against the White House aide by his ex-wife, Jennifer Willoughby.
“It’s incredibly discouraging to see such a vile attack on such a decent man,” Hatch said (via The Intercept). “Shame on any publication that would print this — and shame on the politically motivated, morally bankrupt character assassins that would attempt to sully a man’s good name.”
Porter announced his resignation Wednesday, after a subsequent report from the Daily Mail detailing allegations from his first wife, Colbie Holderness.
[image via screengrab]
UPDATE 5:42 p.m. ET — Hatch may have just walked back his walk back. Frank Thorp of NBC News spoke to Hatch, who said the following:
HATCH says he spoke to Rob Porter at the WH today: “I told him he shouldn’t (resign)…he should fight his way through this, and he’s got a lot to give to the administration and to all of us.”
Porter’s Response? “He didn’t give me a final decision, but I hope that he will stay”
— Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) February 7, 2018
HATCH on Rob Porter: “I know Rob, he’s a very fine fellow and very good man, and it’s been a tremendous embarrassment to him. But he’s going to hang in there I think.”
— Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) February 7, 2018
Have a tip we should know? tips@mediaite.com