John McEntee, longtime body man for President Trump, was escorted out of the White House on Monday, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Mr. McEntee is among Mr. Trump’s longest-serving aides, having joined the campaign as a volunteer in 2015 and quickly rising within the organization. He was fired for a “unspecified security issue,” according to the report.
The president’s personal aide is joining Mr. Trump’s re-election campaign, per a release from the campaign.
Rep. Elijah Cummings pointed to the dismissal as more evidence of the administration’s “deficient” background check system in a letter to chief of staff John Kelly.
“This recent report about President Trump’s personal assistant is just the latest indication that the process for vetting White House employees for security issues is seriously flawed,” Mr. Cummings, Maryland Democrat, wrote.
“The White House’s ongoing obstruction of congressional oversight appears to be an attempt to conceal from the American people pervasive and widespread dysfunction inside the White House, which directly threatens our nation’s security.”
Mr. McEntee’s dismissal follows a turbulent few weeks for the administration regarding background checks. Former aide Rob Porter also left his post after accusations of domestic abuse from two ex-wives became public. Photos of one of his former spouses with a black eye, along with claims Mr. Kelly knew of the allegations for months, forced those inside the administration to evaluate the process.
Mr. Kelly pushed for an overhaul of the clearance system and downgraded Mr. Trump’s son-in-law and adviser, Jared Kushner, after months of delays in obtaining his permanent clearance.
• Sally Persons can be reached at spersons@washingtontimes.com.
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