Another ex-wife reported that he once dragged her naked out of the shower, and another time punched her in the face. She told the Daily Mail:
This woman also wrote about why she stayed with him in a blog post last year: http://www.bornebackceaselessly.com/jou ... y-i-stayed‘It was scary but it wasn’t like it was life-threatening. For years, I would go to Mormon bishops and I would try to find the words to explain what was going on but I was at a loss beyond the explanation that he got physical with me.’
The violence escalated to where Porter was choking his wife.
‘It was not hard enough for me to pass out but it was scary, humiliating and dehumanizing,’ she said.
‘It wasn’t until I went to a secular counsellor at my work place one summer and told him what was going on that he was the first person, and not a male religious leader, who told me that what was happening was not okay.’
Read more at http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyat ... hU24Wz7.99
This dude is a returned missionary who went to BYU.
I know this is a sensitive issue here, and many have been doubly abused as their bishops "counselled" them to "think about what their accusation would do to the abuser and his image." This makes my blood boil. I know it's not unique to Mormons, but wow, it still chaps my hide.
https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/20 ... re-abused/
Utah Senator Orrin Hatch was asked to make a statement about the alleged abuse:
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/201 ... ecret.htmlSen. Orrin Hatch (R–Utah), for whom Porter had previously served as chief of staff, initially told the Daily Mail the allegations against Porter came from lying “character assassins.” His full comment:
Hatch changed his statement on Wednesday, after learning the actual details leveled by the actual victims. His new statement read:It’s incredibly discouraging to see such a vile attack on such a decent man. Shame on any publication that would print this—and shame on the politically motivated, morally bankrupt character assassins that would attempt to sully a man’s good name.
Apparently “I didn’t see it with my own eyes in the workplace,” is the new “thoughts and prayers.” Note that the central moral issue was no longer the scurrilous women who must have lied to a slanderous press, but Hatch’s own heartbreak. He didn’t apologize to the women he had maligned hours earlier, and it’s not entirely clear if they are part of the group of people for whom Hatch is praying.I am heartbroken by today’s allegations. In every interaction I’ve had with Rob, he has been courteous, professional, and respectful. My staff loved him and he was a trusted advisor. I do not know the details of Rob’s personal life. Domestic violence in any form is abhorrent. I am praying for Rob and those involved.
The Church was asked to give a statement on the matter:
https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/20 ... 3749235287Eric Hawkins, a spokesman for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said Thursday he couldn’t speak to the individual circumstances of the allegations. But he issued a statement that abuse is not tolerated. "It is difficult to speak to specific circumstances without complete information from all involved, but the position of the church is clear: There is zero tolerance for abuse of any kind,” Hawkins said. “Church leaders are given instruction on how to prevent and report abuse and how to care for those who have been abused.”
