Betsy DeVos, Donald Trump’s education secretary, resigns over Capitol Hill violence

US President Donald Trump’s education secretary on Thursday resigned over the Capitol Hill violence, AFP reported. Education secretary Betsy DeVos is Trump’s second cabinet member who resigned due to Wednesday’s violence. The US transport secretary Elaine Chao had also resigned on Thursday over Capitol Hill violence.

“That behavior was unconscionable for our country,” DeVos said in a letter to  Trump, published by the US media.

“There is no mistaking the impact your rhetoric had on the situation, and it is the inflection point for me,” she added.

In her statement, Chao had said Wednesday’s incident was “a traumatic and entirely avoidable event as supporters of the President entered the Capitol building following a rally he addressed.”

“It has deeply troubled me in a way I simply cannot set aside,” she added, she added,  AFP reported.

Chao is married to Senate Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican and a close aide to Trump.

On Wednesday, several Trump supporters stormed the Capitol Hill building, during Congress’ session convened to certify President-elect Joe Biden’s Electoral College win. 

Four people died in the violence that erupted.

Undeterred, the lawmakers went ahead with the certification and affirmed Biden’s victory, who will be sworn-in as the 46th President of the United States on January 20.