Rob Porter was in line for a promotion to John Kelly’s deputy before wife-beating scandal broke: CNN

Former White House staff secretary Rob Porter was reportedly in "serious discussions" to get a major promotion shortly before he was forced to step down amid allegations that he physically abused both of his ex-wives.

Sources have told CNN that "Rob Porter was in in serious discussions to be promoted before he was forced to resign from the WH amid abuse allegations." Additionally, one source claimed that Porter "was being considered for deputy chief of staff."

"His anticipated elevation further highlights how top White House officials were willing to overlook indications from the FBI that there were potential abuse allegations in his background in exchange for professional competence in a tumultuous West Wing," CNN writes.

The Trump White House has given multiple conflicting reports about the timeline surrounding Porter's departure.

Last week, deputy press secretary Raj Shah claimed that the White House didn't act sooner in dismissing Porter because the FBI was still conducting its background investigation into him. However, FBI Director Christopher Wray testified under oath on Tuesday that the FBI had finished its investigation in July and had subsequently provided the White House with followup information in November and earlier this month.

What's more, a new report from Politico on Tuesday claimed that White House officials had tried to arrange for an off-the-record meeting for Porter to deny allegations of spousal abuse to reporters even after a photograph of his wife with a black eye had been published by a British tabloid.

Despite this, the White House has tried to claim that it acted swiftly and decisively in firing Porter, even though it had been warned about the FBI about problems in granting him a security clearance months before.