Nothing is more important to Trump than a powerful man's word

The president weighed in on domestic violence allegations against his aide. No Images? Click here         For Trump, There’s Nothing More Important Than A Powerful Man’s Word  On Friday, President Donald Trump weighed in publicly for the first time about the domestic violence allegations leveled at one of his closest aides.  Trump said he was “sad” to hear the news about Rob Porter, who was White House staff secretary until this week, but he never once condemned Porter or offered words of support to his victims. Instead, Trump wished him well and made a point to remind everyone that Porter has said he’s innocent. Porter resigned this week after his two ex-wives came forward and said he had physically and verbally abused them while they were married. One woman even provided photos of the violence she said he inflicted on her during a vacation.  Porter initially received support from White House chief of staff John Kelly, who put out a statement praising him as “a man of true integrity and honor.” Only a day later, after significant public backlash, did Porter announce his resignation. White House officials then said they were stunned to learn the extent of the allegations, even though Porter’s ex-wives had told the FBI he’d abused them and Kelly reportedly knew about the claims for months. Porter was also unable to get a security clearance because of the incidents.  Trump’s reaction is consistent with the way he and his supporters have handled other sexual misconduct allegations against powerful men.  READ MORE     WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING? Congress passed a massive spending deal, ending a shutdown before it ever really started. The House and Senate both passed the measure hours after the funding deadline, but before federal workers were furloughed. READ MORE House lawmakers celebrated themselves this week for passing a bill that cracks down on sexual harassers in Congress. But they have an alleged harasser in their midst who is trying to quietly slip by: Rep. Blake Farenthold (R-Texas). The GOP congressman spent lots of taxpayer money to settle a harassment lawsuit, and said he'd pay it back. He hasn't.  READ MORE A top Democrat wants to be sure lower-profile industries are dealing with sexual misconduct too. While scandals in politics, entertainment and media have generated headlines, Sen. Patty Murray wants to shine a light on other workplaces.  READ MORE    .     ICYMI Months after Hurricane Maria, this Puerto Rican family is still torn apart. “It’s like a dream … You just want to wake up and return to how it was before.”   Why Nancy Pelosi is right about workers getting "crumbs" from the tax bill: A thousand dollars is a lot to a regular person, but it's a small amount in the grand scheme of tax reform.   Racist bullying? A religious school in Texas is arguing that courts can't intervene because religious doctrine makes it immune from legal repercussions.     . Want more?  These Veterans Say Trump’s Military Parade Would Be A Big Waste Of Time California Assemblywoman Takes Unpaid Leave Amid Sexual Misconduct Investigation Mike Pence Left Out In Cold At Winter Olympics VIP Reception     How will Trump’s administration impact you? Sign up for our email and find out. Did a friend send you this? Subscribe here. Like what you see? Share it. Want more? Here are two other newsletters you'll love: The Morning Email and Must Reads. ©2018 HuffPost | 770 Broadway, New York, NY 10003 You are receiving this email because you signed up for updates from HuffPost Feedback | Privacy Policy | Unsubscribe    . - - Preferences  |  Unsubscribe