The outgoing Donald Trump administration in the United States saw a string of resignations after Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol building on Wednesday, 6 January.
While four White House staffers have already tendered their resignations, more are mulling over the same, say reports by American news agencies.
Meanwhile, Trump’s former Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney, who had been appointed special envoy for Northern Ireland, told CNBC television that he had informed Secretary of State Mike Pompeo he was resigning from his diplomatic post.
“I called (Secretary of State) Mike Pompeo last night to let him know I was resigning. I can’t do it. I can’t stay,” Mulvaney said.
"Those who choose to stay, and I have talked with some of them, are choosing to stay because they're worried the president might put someone worse in," he said, indicating that other members of the Trump administration were also eyeing exits.
Top Officers Hand in Resignations
On Thursday, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos handed in her resignation to President Trump in a letter, saying she would step down on Friday over the violence, reported The New York Times. DeVos was also one of the first of Trump’s cabinet secretaries to condemn the incident.
In her resignation letter, DeVos lamented that instead of being able to celebrate the achievements of the Trump administration, “We are left to clean up the mess caused by violent protesters overrunning the US Capitol in an attempt to undermine the people’s business.”
“That behaviour was unconscionable for our country,” she added in the letter, accessed by The New York Times.
Apart from DeVos, Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao also announced that she was resigning over the violence, CNN reported. In a statement announcing her decision, Chao wrote that she was "deeply troubled" by the "entirely avoidable" incident and her resignation would be effective on Monday.
According to Bloomberg, Deputy National Security Adviser Matt Pottinger has resigned on Wednesday.
He said, "There was very little to consider," CNN reported.
National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien and deputy chief of staff Chris Liddell are also considering resignations, said reports by CNN and Bloomberg.
"While there are only 14 days left in Trump's administration and many aides' final days will come before 20 January, many are disgusted by the President's behaviour and no longer believe they can serve him," the CNN report added.
Melania Trump's Chief of Staff, 2 Long-Serving Members of White House Quit
The network also reported that Stephanie Grisham, former White House communications director and press secretary and current chief of staff for first lady Melania Trump, resigned on Wednesday afternoon.
White House social secretary Anna Cristina ‘Rickie’ Niceta also resigned on the same day.
Grisham and Niceta were two of the longest serving members of the Trump administration.
"It has been an honour to serve the country in the White House. I am very proud to have been a part of Mrs Trump's mission to help children everywhere, and proud of the many accomplishments of this administration," Grisham said to CNN.
White House press aide Sarah Matthews also resigned on the same day.
“As someone who worked in the halls of Congress I was deeply disturbed by what I saw today," said Matthews in a press statement.
“Our nation needs a peaceful transfer of power," she added.
More Resignations Expected
The New York Times' White House Correspondent, Maggie Haberman also tweeted saying that more resignations are expected in the next 24 hours.
The US Congress met on Wednesday to certify the Electoral College votes for President-elect Joe Biden.
The session, however, was interrupted by the violence. There was a standoff between police and rioters, both of whom were armed. Further, Trump supporters broke into lawmakers' offices and left notes. As per latest reports, at least four people have lost their lives in the violence, including a woman who was shot by the police.
(With inputs from CNN, Bloomberg and New York Times)
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