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Multiple Trump admin officials resign following D.C. riot

Published

3 years ago

January 7, 2021

Staff Writer

UPDATED

Several White House staffers have resigned after violent protests broke out in Washington D.C. Wednesday.

First lady Melania Trump’s Chief of Staff Stephanie Grisham was the first to submit her resignation Wednesday, effective immediately.

Grisham joined the presidential campaign in 2015 as a press liaison and most recently served as White House communications director and Melania Trump’s spokeswoman.

Grisham quit her position after a violent mob stormed the U.S. Capitol building Wednesday. Her job was set to end in two weeks, when President-elect Joe Biden is sworn in.

“It has been an honor 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 in a statement Wednesday.

Following Grisham’s resignation, White House social secretary Rickie Niceta and deputy White House press secretary Sarah Matthews, also resigned.

“As someone who worked in the halls of Congress, I was deeply disturbed by what I saw today. I’ll be stepping down from my role effective immediately. Our nation needs a peaceful transfer of power,” Matthews said in a statement Wednesday.

Thursday morning, former Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney resigned from his Trump Administration post as envoy to Northern Ireland.

“I called Mike Pompeo last night to let him know I was resigning from that. I can’t do it. I can’t stay … We didn’t sign up for what you saw last night,” Mulvaney told CNBC Thursday.

Mulvaney was critical of how President Trump handled the demonstration, saying his tweet was “not enough.”

The President's tweet is not enough. He can stop this now and needs to do exactly that. Tell these folks to go home.
— Mick Mulvaney (@MickMulvaney) January 6, 2021

Additionally, deputy national security adviser Matt Pottinger, European and Russian Affairs Senior Director Ryan Tully and Assistant Secretary for Intelligence and Security John Costello also resigned, according to Fox News.

Mulvaney warned that other staffers may submit their resignations in the coming days.

National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien, Deputy Chief of Staff Chris Liddell and Transportation Secretary Eliane Chao are also considering resigning, the New York Post has reported.

Follow Annaliese Levy on Twitter @AnnalieseLevy

Featured

Hunter Biden Indicted on Federal Gun Charges Amidst Special Counsel Investigation

Published

2 weeks ago

September 14, 2023

Alexander Carter

Screen Shot 2021 04 09 at 4.57.09 PM scaled

In a significant development, Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, was indicted on Thursday on federal gun charges as part of Special Counsel David Weiss’ ongoing investigation. The indictment alleges that Hunter Biden made false statements during the purchase of a firearm, among other charges.

The charges against Hunter Biden include:

• Making a false statement in the purchase of a firearm

• Making a false statement related to information required to be kept by a federal firearms licensed dealer

•Possession of a firearm by a person who is an unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance

According to the indictment, the alleged incident occurred on or about October 12, 2018, in the District of Delaware. Hunter Biden is accused of knowingly making a false and fictitious written statement during the acquisition of a Colt Cobra 38SPL Revolver. According to reports from Fox News, the statement, submitted on Form 4473, falsely certified that he was not an unlawful user of, and addicted to, any stimulant, narcotic drug, or controlled substance.

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Furthermore, the indictment further states that between October 12, 2018, and October 23, 2018, in the District of Delaware, Hunter Biden knowingly possessed the same firearm despite being an unlawful user of and addicted to controlled substances. This marks the first set of charges brought by Special Counsel David Weiss against Hunter Biden since being granted special counsel status.

The investigation came to public attention when it was reported by Fox News in 2021 that police had responded to an incident in 2018 involving a gun owned by Hunter Biden.

Reports state that, Hallie Biden, the widow of President Biden’s late son, Beau, who was in a relationship with Hunter at the time, discarded the gun. Hunter’s gun was thrown away in a dumpster near a market, located close to a school. It was subsequently revealed that Hunter Biden had purchased a gun earlier that same month.

Hunter Biden’s legal troubles do not end with the gun charges. Earlier in July, an original plea agreement collapsed, which would have seen him plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax counts for willful failure to pay federal income tax, thus avoiding jail time on a felony gun charge. Instead, he pleaded not guilty to two misdemeanor tax charges and one felony gun charge.

Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed David Weiss as special counsel to oversee the Hunter Biden investigation and related matters. The White House has declined to comment on these developments, which continue to draw significant public and media attention.

Follow Alexander Carter on Twitter @AlexCarterDC for more!