GOP/NATIONAL SECURITY/NOMINATIONS/TRUMP PEOPLE: “Republican lawmakers raised questions Wednesday [2-14-18] about the Trump administration’s security clearance process and an oversight panel launched an investigation, as the controversy surrounding former aide Rob Porter starts to eat into Capitol Hill’s confidence in President Donald Trump’s White House.
Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) said his House Oversight Committee on Tuesday night kicked off an investigation into Trump’s employment of Porter — the White House staff secretary who resigned last week — and what White House officials knew about domestic abuse accusations against him… Senior White House officials, including chief of staff John Kelly, have struggled to explain why Porter was allowed to stay on with only an interim security clearance and despite the existence of a protective order granted to one of his ex-wives. The White House says senior staff were not fully aware of the scope of the allegations until last week, but administration officials said Kelly and White House counsel Don McGahn knew the broad outlines last year.
Asked about Gowdy’s investigation into the Porter scandal Wednesday, Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) said he had been informed of the probe and believes the White House has to improve its vetting system for employees…
Three Democrats plan to introduce legislation Wednesday to give Congress greater oversight of the White House’s security clearance process.”
-Louis Nelson, “Lawmakers question Trump’s security procedures after Porter resignation,” Politico, Feb. 14, 2018 11:05am