One of the top aides of US President Donald Trump has resigned from his appointment as White House Staff Secretary as his former wives alleged he verbally and physically abused them.
White House staff secretary Rob Porter said “these outrageous allegations are simply false” as he announced he would step down.
The accusations were first reported in the Daily Mail and include accounts of physical and emotional abuse.
The White House would not comment on a report that Mr Porter, 40, failed to receive security clearance.
His ex-wives, Colbie Holderness and Jennifer Willoughby, both recounted stories of Mr Porter’s alleged misconduct.
His first spouse, Ms Holderness, said the White House aide had been verbally and physically abusive.
Ms Holderness, a US government analyst, said Mr Porter had kicked her on their 2003 honeymoon in the Canary Islands.
She also alleged he punched her in the face while they were on holiday a couple of years later in Florence, Italy.
Ms Holderness supplied a photo of herself with a black eye to the media.
Ms Willoughby, a motivational speaker, told the Daily Mail she was married to Mr Porter from 2009-13.
She wrote about her experiences in a blog post entitled Why I Stayed.
Rob Porter was a squeaky-clean aide who made sure that papers landing on the president’s desk were in order.
The White House staff secretary also helped the president follow protocol.
At one event in the East Room, for example, Mr Porter stood in the back of the room and gestured to the president, showing him where he was supposed to go in order to sign documents.
Mr Porter’s decision to resign – and the allegations against him – have shocked those who know him.
Mr Porter attended Harvard with the President Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University.
He formerly worked for Utah Senator Orrin Hatch, who said he was “heartbroken” by the allegations.