Monday at the press briefing the CNN correspondent Jim Acosta asked White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders if President Donald Trump was “seemingly defending” former White House staff secretary Rob Porter from domestic abuse allegations “because he has faced his own allegations.”
Partial transcript as follows:
ACOSTA: What about the president’s tweet over the weekended and people’s lives are being altered and destroyed by an allegation. It seems like the president was believing Mr. Porter, as opposed to his alleged victims. Why did the president tweet that over the weekend? Why is he seemingly defending Mr. Porter publicly? Is it because he has faced his own allegations? Is there some sensitivity there?
HUCKABEE SANDERS: As I just said, and I will repeat it agin, the president and the entire administration take domestic violence seriously and believe all allegations need to be investigated thoroughly. He certainly supports the victims of domestic violence above all else and believes everyone should be treated fairly and with due process. The president is simply saying there should be a due process that should be followed and look at.
ACOSTA: Is there a tone deafness there — just a being on the wrong side of things?
HUCKABEE-SANDERS: I don’t think the presidency being — supporting due process for any allegation is not tone deaf. I think it is allowing things to be investigated. A mere allegation should not be the determining factor. He is not taking a side on any specific issue, he is saying mere allegations should be the determining factor for any individual. There should be due process, I think anybody here if they were accused of something — hold on I am not finished. What I am saying is anybody here, if they are accused of something, would want the opportunity to go through due process.
(h/t Grabien)
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