Former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci Anthony ScaramucciFormer DeVos chief of staff joins anti-Trump group Scaramucci to Lemon: Trump 'doubling down' on downplaying virus 'should scare' viewers Sunday shows - Leaked audio of Trump's sister reverberates MORE is questioning chief of staff John Kelly John Francis KellyMORE's handling of the Rob Porter scandal, saying "the cover-up is always worse than the crime."

"I would say, 'Jeez, you know, I knew about it,' " Scaramucci said in an interview on "The Axe Files" with CNN's David Axelrod. "I was going to give the guy a pass because he told me it wasn't true and I apologize to the American people for that. He's been let go and I'd still like to keep my job. That's what I would do if I was General Kelly."

Kelly came under fire this week after initially defending Porter, the former White House staff secretary, as reports emerged that his two ex-wives said he physically and emotionally abused them during their marriages.

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The chief of staff defended Porter as a "man of true integrity and honor" after the first wave of reports, but later said he was "shocked" by the allegations as details of the abuse emerged, including photos of Porter's first wife's bruised face.

Porter resigned from his White House post on Wednesday. Kelly reportedly knew for months that Porter had not obtained a full security clearance due to the past allegations.

Scaramucci, who served for only 10 days as the communications director last year before being fired by Kelly, said if he were the chief of staff he wouldn't say he "didn't know about it when he knew about it or try to cover it."

President Trump Donald John TrumpObama calls on Senate not to fill Ginsburg's vacancy until after election Planned Parenthood: 'The fate of our rights' depends on Ginsburg replacement Progressive group to spend M in ad campaign on Supreme Court vacancy MORE has also faced backlash for his comments on Porter's departure this week, for saying "we certainly wish him well" and praising his performance at the White House without mentioning the allegations.