Mick Mulvaney resigns from Trump administration: ‘I can’t stay here’

by Jordan Williams - 01/07/21 8:39 AM ET

Former White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney on Thursday resigned from his post as the special envoy to Northern Ireland following the riot at the U.S. Capitol.

“I can’t stay here, not after yesterday,” Mulvaney said in an appearance on CNBC. “You can’t look at that yesterday and say I want to be a part of that in any way shape or form.”

His resignation follows that of some other notable White House aides in the aftermath of the violence, including Stephanie Grisham, chief of staff to first lady Melania Trump, and deputy national security adviser Matt Pottinger.

National security adviser Robert O’Brien also reportedly considered stepping down on Wednesday, according to several reports.

Mulvaney said he wouldn’t be surprised to see more resignations as President Trump winds down his final 13 days in office but added that he understood why some in the administration would still choose to stay.

“I wouldn’t be surprised to see more of my friends resign over the course of the next 24 to 48 hours, and it’d be completely understandable if they did,” Mulvaney said. “Those who choose to stay, and I have talked some of to them, are choosing to stay because they are concerned that the president might put someone in to make things even worse.”

Trump appointed Mulvaney to the special envoy role in March after he had served as chief of staff from 2018 to 2020.

A mob of Trump supporters overtook the Capitol on Wednesday as Congress was meeting to certify the Electoral College results, forcing both chambers to evacuate. The situation quickly spiraled out of control, with rioters entering both chambers and vandalizing statues and offices — including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) office.

One woman was shot and killed by Capitol Police, and three other people died after suffering “separate medical emergencies” near the Capitol grounds.

Congress affirmed Biden’s victory despite the riot, and Trump acknowledged there would be “an orderly transition of power” minutes after the certification.