Wyden wants explanation why Porter had classified info access

Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and 10 other senators wrote the White House on Friday, raising serious concerns about former Staff Secretary Rob Porter’s ongoing access to classified information, even after White House Chief of Staff John Kelly was notified that Porter could not obtain a security clearance.

The letter to Kelly and White House Counsel Don McGahn comes in the wake of new details continuing to emerge about what the White House officials knew about Porter’s history of alleged abuse – and when they knew it.

The 11 senators – who sit on the Senate Homeland Security & Government Affairs, Intelligence, Armed Services, and Judiciary committees – also questioned recent reports that in addition to Porter, there are “multiple aides” who continue to work in the White House despite being denied a security clearance.

“We understand there are also serious questions regarding when the White House first learned of these allegations and Mr. Porter’s security clearance status and access to classified information,” the senators wrote. “Like many Americans, we find these allegations deeply troubling.”

In addition to Wyden, Friday’s letter was signed by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Tom Udall (D-NM).