Washington: John F. Kelly, the White House chief of staff, told officials in the West Wing on Friday that he was willing to step down over his handling of allegations of spousal abuse against Rob Porter, the staff secretary who resigned in disgrace this week over the accusations, according to two officials aware of the discussions.

The officials emphasised that they did not consider a resignation imminent, and that Kelly - a retired four-star Marine general who early in his tenure often used a threat of quitting as a way to temper President Trump's behaviour - had made no formal offer. In comments to reporters at the White House on Friday, Kelly said he had not offered to resign.

But his suggestion in private that he would be willing to step down if the President wanted him to reflected the degree to which the scandal surrounding Porter has engulfed the White House, touching off a bitter round of recriminations that could result in a shake-up at the highest levels.

Two West Wing advisers and a third person painted a picture of a White House staff rived and confused, with fingers pointed in all directions and the president privately expressing dissatisfaction with Kelly.

Some complained that Donald F. McGahn II, the White House counsel, who learned last January that Porter was concerned about potentially damaging accusations from two ex-wives, had not been forthcoming enough about what he knew.

Others faulted Hope Hicks, the communications director, who had been romantically involved with Porter, for soliciting statements of support for him when the accusations became public.

Trump blocks memo

Trump on Friday blocked the release of a classified memo written by congressional Democrats to rebut a Republican document that he allowed to be made public last week.

The Republican President's decision infuriated Democrats. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said, "Millions of Americans are asking one simple question: what is he hiding?"

New York Times News Service