Melania Trump’s chief of staff resigns over deadly riots at Capitol building

Violent riots raise questions over whether White House aides will resign in protest

Melania Trump’s White House chief of staff Stephanie Grisham has resigned after violent rioters supporting President Donald Trump attacked the Capitol building. According to reports, she submitted her immediate resignation as the demonstrations erupted on Wednesday.

The news, first reported by CNN’s Kate Bennet, comes as Congress reconvened by nightfall to certify President-elect Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 elections following the violent clashes on Capitol Hill.

At least one person was killed in the riots, in which pro-Trump right-wing demonstrators stormed barricades and breached security measures while destroying property in an effort to stop the certification of the election. Many of those rioters were later escorted out of the Capitol building without facing arrest. 

Follow live: Four people killed in Capitol riots 

Ms Grisham has been a close ally to the first lady during her tenure in the east wing and previously served as the White House communications director.

In a statement released after the news broke, the former chief of staff said she was proud of the Trump administration and its work.

“It has been an honour to serve the country in the White House,” Ms Grisham said. “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.”

Ms Grisham was one of Trump's longest serving aides, having joined the campaign in 2015. She served as the White House press secretary and never held a press briefing.

Wednesday's violent occupation of the U.S. Capitol by the president's supporters sparked renewed conversations inside the White House about mass resignations by mid-level aides who are responsible for operations of the office of the president.

Two people familiar with the conversations said the aides were torn between fears of what more would happen if they left and a desire to register their disgust with their boss. They spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal matters.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.