Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao resigns because of the attempted coup

Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao

The only Asian American in Donald Trump's Cabinet resigned Wednesday because of the attempted coup by Trump supporters Tuesday.

Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao announced her resignation in a tweet to employees in the Dept. of Transportation in which she cited the "traumatic and entirely avoidable" violence at the U.S. Capitol on that occurred Wednesday when radical right Trump supporters broke into the Capitol in an attempt to thwart the certification of the Electoral College votes.

In a posting to the department, Chao said, "It has deeply troubled me in a way that I simply cannot set aside." Her resignation will be effective next Monday.

Thus far, Chao is the highest-ranking member of President Trump's administration yet to resign following the deadly mob violence at the Capitol, fueled by Trump's own support of the crowd gathering in protest of his election loss.

The controversial former Attorney General William Barr, who had already left his office last month, said Wednesday that his former boss was responsible for “orchestrating a mob to pressure Congress,” calling his former boss’ actions “inexcusable.”

In resigning, Chao, who is married to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, is the latest administration figure to leave in protest of Trump's actions. Others who resigned include: Stephanie Grisham, chief of staff to first lady Melania Trump; Sarah Matthews, a deputy press secretary; and Matt Pottinger, the deputy national security adviser.

After a six-hour delay of the certification process, Congress returned to their chambers and officially approved the Electoral Collge votes for President and Vice President, officially proclaiming the winner to be President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.