A hacker from Austria has revealed a massive data leak in&nbsp;Parler&nbsp;LLC, a social media platform favoured by many supporters of US&nbsp;President Donald Trump.

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I am now crawling URLs of all videos uploaded to Parler. Sequentially from latest to oldest. VIDXXX.txt files coming up, 50k chunks, there will be 1.1M URLs total: <a href="https://t.co/YUl8CtoeEA">https://t.co/YUl8CtoeEA</a> 
 
This may include things from deleted/private posts.
— crash override (@donk_enby) <a href="https://twitter.com/donk_enby/status/1348281459031814146?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2021</a></blockquote>
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These are the original, unprocessed, raw files as uploaded to Parler with all associated metadata.
— crash override (@donk_enby) <a href="https://twitter.com/donk_enby/status/1348281461435207680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Similarly, a Reddit user called '<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/ParlerWatch/comments/kuqvs3/all_parler_user_data_is_being_downloaded_as_we/giu04o6/?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=web2x&amp;context=3">BlueMountainDace</a>' exposed how Parler's hosting platform Twilio, accidentally revealed the app's security authentications in a press release. This made it very easy for anybody to access Parler's private content including chat history, geodata and even driver's license.

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Remember how people were dunking on Parler for being built on WordPress? Well, through a plug-in exploit, literally all the user data (including photos of verified state id cards) has been retrieved by hackers and is being posted online. Lmao ♾️<a href="https://t.co/w1yexoUOxq">https://t.co/w1yexoUOxq</a> <a href="https://t.co/h2Mf7Fn1Sc">pic.twitter.com/h2Mf7Fn1Sc</a>
— Classic Bird Respecter (@BirdRespecter) <a href="https://twitter.com/BirdRespecter/status/1348557067351519234?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 11, 2021</a></blockquote>
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As per technology expert&nbsp;Matthew Sheffield, the breach was possible due the Parler's&nbsp;long criticised lax security standards.

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This Parler user explains it quite well here. Because of yet more security flaws at Parler, it's now possible for all that "free speech" to be shared and archived with the world, even if the posters tried to erase their not-at-all innocent videos and GPS data. <a href="https://t.co/YbjbwXQitj">https://t.co/YbjbwXQitj</a>
— Matthew Sheffield (@mattsheffield) <a href="https://twitter.com/mattsheffield/status/1348573748450918402?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 11, 2021</a></blockquote>
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The conservative social network&nbsp;Parler&nbsp;was forced offline Monday, tracking websites showed after Amazon warned the company would lose access to its servers for its failure to properly police violent content.

The site's popularity soared in recent weeks, becoming the number one download from Apple's App Store after the much larger Twitter banned US President Donald Trump from its platform for his role in inciting a riot at the US Capitol last week.

Messages of support for Wednesday's attack in Washington DC, along with calls for more demonstrations, had flourished on the platform, leading Google to remove it from its app store on Friday, followed by Apple on Saturday.

Amazon then confirmed it would suspend the platform from its cloud hosting services for allowing "threats of violence."

Parler&nbsp;Chief Executive John Matze lashed out at Amazon, Google and Apple, saying it was a coordinated effort knowing&nbsp;Parler's options would be limited and it would inflict the most damage right as Trump was banned from other social media platforms.

"There is the possibility&nbsp;Parler&nbsp;will be unavailable on internet for up to a week as we rebuild from scratch," he said in a post on&nbsp;Parler.

"This was a coordinated attack by the tech giants to kill competition in the market place... You can expect the war on competition and free speech to continue, but don't count us out."

In addition to&nbsp;Parler, right-leaning social media users in the United States have flocked to messaging app Telegram and hands-off social site Gab, citing the more aggressive policing of political comments on mainstream platforms such as Twitter Inc and Facebook Inc.

The social network, launched in 2018, operates much like Twitter, with profiles to follow and "parleys" instead of tweets.

In its early days, the platform attracted a crowd of ultra-conservative and even extreme-right users. But it now attracts many more traditional Republican voices.&nbsp;

The platform drew fierce criticism in 2018 when investigators found that the shooter who killed 11 people in an attack on a Pittsburgh synagogue had earlier posted anti-Semitic messages on the site.

A hacker from Austria has revealed a massive data leak in Parler LLC, a social media platform favoured by many supporters of US President Donald Trump. I am now crawling URLs of all videos uploaded to Parler.

A hacker from Austria has revealed a massive data leak in Parler LLC, a social media platform favoured by many supporters of US President Donald Trump. I am now crawling URLs of all videos uploaded to Parler. Sequentially from latest to oldest. VIDXXX.txt files coming up, 50k chunks, there will be 1.1M URLs total: https://t.co/YUl8CtoeEA This may include things from deleted/private posts. — crash override (@donk_enby) January 10, 2021 × These are the original, unprocessed, raw files as uploaded to Parler with all associated metadata. — crash override (@donk_enby) January 10, 2021 × Similarly, a Reddit user called 'BlueMountainDace' exposed how Parler's hosting platform Twilio, accidentally revealed the app's security authentications in a press release. This made it very easy for anybody to access Parler's private content including chat history, geodata and even driver's license. Remember how people were dunking on Parler for being built on WordPress? Well, through a plug-in exploit, literally all the user data (including photos of verified state id cards) has been retrieved by hackers and is being posted online. Lmao ♾️https://t.co/w1yexoUOxq pic.twitter.com/h2Mf7Fn1Sc — Classic Bird Respecter (@BirdRespecter) January 11, 2021 × As per technology expert Matthew Sheffield, the breach was possible due the Parler's long criticised lax security standards. This Parler user explains it quite well here. Because of yet more security flaws at Parler, it's now possible for all that "free speech" to be shared and archived with the world, even if the posters tried to erase their not-at-all innocent videos and GPS data. https://t.co/YbjbwXQitj — Matthew Sheffield (@mattsheffield) January 11, 2021 × The conservative social network Parler was forced offline Monday, tracking websites showed after Amazon warned the company would lose access to its servers for its failure to properly police violent content. The site's popularity soared in recent weeks, becoming the number one download from Apple's App Store after the much larger Twitter banned US President Donald Trump from its platform for his role in inciting a riot at the US Capitol last week. Messages of support for Wednesday's attack in Washington DC, along with calls for more demonstrations, had flourished on the platform, leading Google to remove it from its app store on Friday, followed by Apple on Saturday. Amazon then confirmed it would suspend the platform from its cloud hosting services for allowing "threats of violence." Parler Chief Executive John Matze lashed out at Amazon, Google and Apple, saying it was a coordinated effort knowing Parler's options would be limited and it would inflict the most damage right as Trump was banned from other social media platforms. "There is the possibility Parler will be unavailable on internet for up to a week as we rebuild from scratch," he said in a post on Parler. "This was a coordinated attack by the tech giants to kill competition in the market place... You can expect the war on competition and free speech to continue, but don't count us out." In addition to Parler, right-leaning social media users in the United States have flocked to messaging app Telegram and hands-off social site Gab, citing the more aggressive policing of political comments on mainstream platforms such as Twitter Inc and Facebook Inc. The social network, launched in 2018, operates much like Twitter, with profiles to follow and "parleys" instead of tweets. In its early days, the platform attracted a crowd of ultra-conservative and even extreme-right users. But it now attracts many more traditional Republican voices. The platform drew fierce criticism in 2018 when investigators found that the shooter who killed 11 people in an attack on a Pittsburgh synagogue had earlier posted anti-Semitic messages on the site.

Hacker reveals massive data leak in social networking app Parler after US Capitol siege

Another horrifying video from Wednesday's riots at the US Capitol Hill has emerged, which shows a policeman crushed between the pro-Trump mob and officers defending the building.

The said policeman was pinned between a door and the masses of people as per the video captured by investigative outlet Status Coup.

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HORRIFYING Footage Shot by <a href="https://twitter.com/JonFarinaPhoto?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JonFarinaPhoto</a> of Trump’s Army Storming Inside the Capitol and Attacking Cops. 
 
FULL VIDEO: <a href="https://t.co/DwqQd1HuBM">https://t.co/DwqQd1HuBM</a> <a href="https://t.co/c8GHiWAEfp">pic.twitter.com/c8GHiWAEfp</a>
— Status Coup News (@StatusCoup) <a href="https://twitter.com/StatusCoup/status/1347230708721451008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2021</a></blockquote>
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It can also be seen that at least one individual attempted to rip away the officer's mask while he was wedged.

What follows is even more ghastly. The officer reenters the frame of the video stuck in the same position, now maskless and bloodied, screaming for help.

A low voice can be heard amid the fray, yelling, "Let him back, let him out!"

The officer eventually was able to free himself from the door.

According to a report published on CNN, Jon Farina, who noted the clash between police and rioters was constant, said the rioters "just kept rotating in and out. They would say 'We need fresh patriots.'"

Farina said police eventually repelled rioters from that location.

Wednesday's storming of the Capitol left five people dead, including Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick.

Federal agents in US have arrested two more Capitol Hill rioters whose images had gone viral. One of them carried the House speaker's lectern and another wore horns and a fur pelt.

Dozens of people have been charged in the aftermath, and the FBI has been asking the public to help identify participants given the proliferation of images of the riots on the internet.&nbsp;

The FBI and the Washington police department's homicide unit are jointly investigating the death of &nbsp;Sicknick, who was injured while defending the Capitol. He had just been sworn in with the US Capitol Police Department, fulfilling a lifelong dream.

Another horrifying video from Wednesday's riots at the US Capitol Hill has emerged, which shows a policeman crushed between the pro-Trump mob and officers defending the building.

Another horrifying video from Wednesday's riots at the US Capitol Hill has emerged, which shows a policeman crushed between the pro-Trump mob and officers defending the building. The said policeman was pinned between a door and the masses of people as per the video captured by investigative outlet Status Coup. HORRIFYING Footage Shot by @JonFarinaPhoto of Trump’s Army Storming Inside the Capitol and Attacking Cops. FULL VIDEO: https://t.co/DwqQd1HuBM pic.twitter.com/c8GHiWAEfp — Status Coup News (@StatusCoup) January 7, 2021 × It can also be seen that at least one individual attempted to rip away the officer's mask while he was wedged. What follows is even more ghastly. The officer reenters the frame of the video stuck in the same position, now maskless and bloodied, screaming for help. A low voice can be heard amid the fray, yelling, "Let him back, let him out!" The officer eventually was able to free himself from the door. According to a report published on CNN, Jon Farina, who noted the clash between police and rioters was constant, said the rioters "just kept rotating in and out. They would say 'We need fresh patriots.'" Farina said police eventually repelled rioters from that location. Wednesday's storming of the Capitol left five people dead, including Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick. Federal agents in US have arrested two more Capitol Hill rioters whose images had gone viral. One of them carried the House speaker's lectern and another wore horns and a fur pelt. Dozens of people have been charged in the aftermath, and the FBI has been asking the public to help identify participants given the proliferation of images of the riots on the internet. The FBI and the Washington police department's homicide unit are jointly investigating the death of Sicknick, who was injured while defending the Capitol. He had just been sworn in with the US Capitol Police Department, fulfilling a lifelong dream.

Video shows officer crushed against door by mob storming US Capitol

Dozens of supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump have been criminally charged in connection with the violent storming of the U.S. Capitol building earlier this week, and many more cases are expected.

Five people died as a result of the riot, including a Capitol Police officer. No one has been charged yet in connection with any of those deaths.

Several different criminal statutes and theories of liability could be used against the rioters, legal experts said.

Here is an overview of some of the potential charges, including seditious conspiracy and felony murder.

What criminal charges have been filed so far?

Some of the more than 50 defendants in the federal district and superior courts have been charged with gun-related offenses. There are federal laws against carrying a gun in the Capitol building, and possessing an unregistered firearm or unlicensed ammunition in the District of Columbia.

A Seattle man, Mark Leffingwell, has been charged with assaulting a federal law enforcement officer, a federal crime. He is accused of punching a Capitol Police officer in a separate incident from the one that led to an officer`s death. A lawyer for Leffingwell did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Several dozen individuals have been charged with unlawful entry on the Capitol grounds, which is a crime under the Washington D.C. criminal code and federal law. Those include Nicholas Ochs, a member of the far-right group Proud Boys, who posted a photo of himself inside the Capitol building. A lawyer for Ochs could not be identified.

Could multiple people be charged with killing a police officer?

Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick died on Thursday. Sicknick "was injured while physically engaging with protesters," the police department said in a statement. He collapsed after he returned to his divisional office, the statement said.

Sicknick was one of the five people to die as a result of the riot.

A top priority for law enforcement will be identifying anyone responsible for Sicknick`s death, said Matt Jones, a former federal prosecutor in Washington now at the law firm Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr.

If someone assaulted Sicknick, that person could be charged with murder or manslaughter.

Anyone who assisted the main perpetrator could face criminal charges for "aiding and abetting" murder or manslaughter.

If Sicknick was killed as part of a coordinated plot to attack individuals inside the Capitol, individuals involved in that scheme could be charged as co-conspirators, Jones said.

"Prosecutors are no doubt scouring every phone and social media post they can," Jones said. "And, to the extent they show an intent to cause harm to an officer, or member of Congress or their staff, that will dramatically move the ball forward."

Jay Town, former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, said rioters who were simply present in the room when Sicknick was engaged with protesters are far less likely to be charged.

"To assign culpability beyond the actual assailant, or those that aided or abetted them, would normally require proof that other individuals knew that the commission of their criminal acts might likely lead to death or serious bodily injury," Town said.

Could there be felony murder charges?

There is a doctrine of U.S. law, recognized in Washington, called felony murder, which allows prosecutors to charge people with murder even if they did not intend to kill. 
Typically, a defendant is charged with felony murder if they engage in a violent crime and a death indirectly results from their actions.

Ken Kohl, a top prosecutor on the case, said at a news conference on Friday that felony murder "is always in play in something like this."

Legal experts said more facts were needed to determine if this theory of liability would apply.

Jones said it could be difficult to bring felony murder charges. To do so, prosecutors may need to prove certain underlying offenses such as armed robbery or kidnapping, which do not appear to be present here. What about sedition?

It is very possible individuals will be charged with a federal law that bans efforts to overthrow the government, legal experts said.

That law prohibits conspiring to "overthrow, put down, or to destroy by force" the U.S. government.

The statute "will absolutely apply once the investigation is completed," said Justo Mendez, a criminal defense attorney at Holland &amp; Knight in Texas and a former federal prosecutor. "The evidence of `conspire to overthrow` is all over social media."

Who is bringing the criminal cases?

All of the criminal charges so far have been brought by the U.S. Attorney`s Office for the District of Columbia, part of the U.S. Justice Department. These prosecutors enforce federal laws, as well as the District of Columbia`s criminal code.

Federal prosecutors around the country could also bring charges if plans to carry out violence were made within their jurisdictions.

Dozens of supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump have been criminally charged in connection with the violent storming of the U.S. Capitol building earlier this week, and many more cases are expected.

Dozens of supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump have been criminally charged in connection with the violent storming of the U.S. Capitol building earlier this week, and many more cases are expected. Five people died as a result of the riot, including a Capitol Police officer. No one has been charged yet in connection with any of those deaths. Several different criminal statutes and theories of liability could be used against the rioters, legal experts said. Here is an overview of some of the potential charges, including seditious conspiracy and felony murder. What criminal charges have been filed so far? Some of the more than 50 defendants in the federal district and superior courts have been charged with gun-related offenses. There are federal laws against carrying a gun in the Capitol building, and possessing an unregistered firearm or unlicensed ammunition in the District of Columbia. A Seattle man, Mark Leffingwell, has been charged with assaulting a federal law enforcement officer, a federal crime. He is accused of punching a Capitol Police officer in a separate incident from the one that led to an officer`s death. A lawyer for Leffingwell did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Several dozen individuals have been charged with unlawful entry on the Capitol grounds, which is a crime under the Washington D.C. criminal code and federal law. Those include Nicholas Ochs, a member of the far-right group Proud Boys, who posted a photo of himself inside the Capitol building. A lawyer for Ochs could not be identified. Could multiple people be charged with killing a police officer? Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick died on Thursday. Sicknick "was injured while physically engaging with protesters," the police department said in a statement. He collapsed after he returned to his divisional office, the statement said. Sicknick was one of the five people to die as a result of the riot. A top priority for law enforcement will be identifying anyone responsible for Sicknick`s death, said Matt Jones, a former federal prosecutor in Washington now at the law firm Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr. If someone assaulted Sicknick, that person could be charged with murder or manslaughter. Anyone who assisted the main perpetrator could face criminal charges for "aiding and abetting" murder or manslaughter. If Sicknick was killed as part of a coordinated plot to attack individuals inside the Capitol, individuals involved in that scheme could be charged as co-conspirators, Jones said. "Prosecutors are no doubt scouring every phone and social media post they can," Jones said. "And, to the extent they show an intent to cause harm to an officer, or member of Congress or their staff, that will dramatically move the ball forward." Jay Town, former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, said rioters who were simply present in the room when Sicknick was engaged with protesters are far less likely to be charged. "To assign culpability beyond the actual assailant, or those that aided or abetted them, would normally require proof that other individuals knew that the commission of their criminal acts might likely lead to death or serious bodily injury," Town said. Could there be felony murder charges? There is a doctrine of U.S. law, recognized in Washington, called felony murder, which allows prosecutors to charge people with murder even if they did not intend to kill. Typically, a defendant is charged with felony murder if they engage in a violent crime and a death indirectly results from their actions. Ken Kohl, a top prosecutor on the case, said at a news conference on Friday that felony murder "is always in play in something like this." Legal experts said more facts were needed to determine if this theory of liability would apply. Jones said it could be difficult to bring felony murder charges. To do so, prosecutors may need to prove certain underlying offenses such as armed robbery or kidnapping, which do not appear to be present here. What about sedition? It is very possible individuals will be charged with a federal law that bans efforts to overthrow the government, legal experts said. That law prohibits conspiring to "overthrow, put down, or to destroy by force" the U.S. government. The statute "will absolutely apply once the investigation is completed," said Justo Mendez, a criminal defense attorney at Holland & Knight in Texas and a former federal prosecutor. "The evidence of `conspire to overthrow` is all over social media." Who is bringing the criminal cases? All of the criminal charges so far have been brought by the U.S. Attorney`s Office for the District of Columbia, part of the U.S. Justice Department. These prosecutors enforce federal laws, as well as the District of Columbia`s criminal code. Federal prosecutors around the country could also bring charges if plans to carry out violence were made within their jurisdictions.

Explainer: What crimes can the US Capitol rioters be charged with?

In a city where people can strive for decades to land a plum government job, resignations on principle do not happen often and, when they do, often reverberate as selfless acts of valor.

But as <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">Trump</a> administration officials from Cabinet members to junior White House aides quit this week — less than two weeks before their jobs would have ended anyway — over President Donald Trump’s incitement of a riot Wednesday at the Capitol, the reaction has combined applause for drawing a line on Trump’s behavior with caustic condemnation for what many see as self-serving, cost-free leaps toward public redemption.

“I don’t have any question that some of these are resignations of convenience, and resume resignations,” said Peter Wehner, a senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center who worked for three previous Republican presidents but has long been a critic of Trump.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-focus-us-president-has-sole-power-to-launch-nuclear-strike-355538" hreflang="en">In focus: US president has sole power to launch nuclear strike</a>

The test of how to judge such departures, he said, is complicated, and depends on how hard the exiting officials worked while on the inside to constrain presidential behavior they considered immoral or dangerous. But he said any claims by those officials that they were shocked by Wednesday’s events were dubious. “It was almost inevitable for the Trump presidency to end like this, or something like this,” he said.

The resignations include two Cabinet officials, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and Labor Secretary Elaine Chao. Several White House aides also stepped down, including Matthew Pottinger, the deputy national security adviser; Rickie Niceta, the social secretary; Stephanie Grisham, the chief of staff to the first lady and a former White House press secretary; and Trump’s special envoy to Northern Ireland, Mick Mulvaney, who spent more than a year as Trump’s acting chief of staff.

Some, like Mulvaney and DeVos, who called the president’s language inciting the rioters “unconscionable,” were explicit about their disgust. Others, like Pottinger and Grisham, left quietly but for seemingly obvious reasons.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-speaker-says-house-can-move-to-impeach-trump-if-he-doesnt-resign-355537" hreflang="en">US Speaker says House can move to impeach Trump if he doesn’t resign</a>

To Trump’s die-hard supporters, they may be traitors. But the departed Trump administration officials had stood by the president through countless other episodes that shocked consciences across the country: the separation of migrant children from their parents at the border, Trump’s equivocal words about white supremacist groups, and his many weeks dedicated to undermining the presidential election result with false claims about voter fraud and at least one vague threat to a state election official.

Mulvaney in particular was known as an enabler of the president who did little to constrain Trump’s impulses.

Even some people critical of officials who remained in Trump’s employ through such episodes said the resignations created political pressure that might act as a check on Trump now. The resignations may even have contributed to his belated condemnation Thursday of the violence at the Capitol, and his assurance of a peaceful transfer of power on Jan. 20, they said.

“John Rhodes and Hugh Scott hadn’t been profiles in courage in standing up to Nixon. Still, it mattered when they did,” said William Kristol, a conservative writer and activist who has been critical of Trump, referring to the two senior-most Republicans in Congress who played a crucial role in persuading President Richard Nixon to resign in August 1974.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-likes-trumps-decision-to-skip-inauguration-slams-vaccine-rollout-355511" hreflang="en">Biden likes Trump's decision to skip inauguration, slams vaccine rollout</a>

Yet none of the departing Trump officials appear to be making the kind of self-sacrifice remembered in some famed resignations. Cyrus Vance resigned as secretary of state in 1980 in protest of President Jimmy Carter’s failed secret mission to rescue American hostages in Iran. Two senior Department of Health and Human Services officials quit in anger over President Bill Clinton’s decision to sign a sweeping 1996 welfare reform law. Trump’s first secretary of defense, Jim Mattis, quit after Trump’s sudden decision to remove U.S. troops from northeastern Syria.

At least one Trump administration official appears to have invited his own firing this week: Gabriel Noronha, a State Department press aide, tweeted Wednesday that Trump was “entirely unfit to remain in office, and needs to go.” In what could not have been a surprise to him, Noronha was dismissed the following day.

Others have been publicly rumored to be considering their plans, including the national security adviser, Robert C. O’Brien, who tweeted condemnations of Wednesday’s riot. O’Brien, who has spoken to friends about a future run for office, is said to be staying on for the sake of stability, but may have enjoyed reputational gain among Trump critics after a slew of news leaks cast him in a Hamlet-like role about his future.

But Trump officials confirmed Friday that five National Security Council senior directors, handling issues including Russia and weapons of mass destruction, had quietly resigned from their jobs since Wednesday.

In the cases of DeVos and Chao, some critics complained that by departing, they were forgoing an opportunity to do something far more consequential: join with other disgusted Cabinet officials in a potential effort to invoke the 25th Amendment and relieve Trump of his presidential duties.

“At this late a stage, resignations help little beyond serving as late attempts at self-preservation,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., wrote on Twitter. “If Sec. Chao objects to yesterday’s events this deeply, she should be working the Cabinet to invoke the 25th amendment — not abdicating the seat that allows her to do so.”

Alyssa Farah, who left as White House communications director weeks before the deadly mayhem in the Capitol, said it was clear then that Trump’s post-election behavior was intolerable.

“I made the decision to step down in December because I saw where this was heading,” she told Politico in an interview published Friday.

In a city where people can strive for decades to land a plum government job, resignations on principle do not happen often and, when they do, often reverberate as selfless acts of valor.

In a city where people can strive for decades to land a plum government job, resignations on principle do not happen often and, when they do, often reverberate as selfless acts of valor. But as Trump administration officials from Cabinet members to junior White House aides quit this week — less than two weeks before their jobs would have ended anyway — over President Donald Trump’s incitement of a riot Wednesday at the Capitol, the reaction has combined applause for drawing a line on Trump’s behavior with caustic condemnation for what many see as self-serving, cost-free leaps toward public redemption. “I don’t have any question that some of these are resignations of convenience, and resume resignations,” said Peter Wehner, a senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center who worked for three previous Republican presidents but has long been a critic of Trump. Also read| In focus: US president has sole power to launch nuclear strike The test of how to judge such departures, he said, is complicated, and depends on how hard the exiting officials worked while on the inside to constrain presidential behavior they considered immoral or dangerous. But he said any claims by those officials that they were shocked by Wednesday’s events were dubious. “It was almost inevitable for the Trump presidency to end like this, or something like this,” he said. The resignations include two Cabinet officials, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and Labor Secretary Elaine Chao. Several White House aides also stepped down, including Matthew Pottinger, the deputy national security adviser; Rickie Niceta, the social secretary; Stephanie Grisham, the chief of staff to the first lady and a former White House press secretary; and Trump’s special envoy to Northern Ireland, Mick Mulvaney, who spent more than a year as Trump’s acting chief of staff. Some, like Mulvaney and DeVos, who called the president’s language inciting the rioters “unconscionable,” were explicit about their disgust. Others, like Pottinger and Grisham, left quietly but for seemingly obvious reasons. Also read| US Speaker says House can move to impeach Trump if he doesn’t resign To Trump’s die-hard supporters, they may be traitors. But the departed Trump administration officials had stood by the president through countless other episodes that shocked consciences across the country: the separation of migrant children from their parents at the border, Trump’s equivocal words about white supremacist groups, and his many weeks dedicated to undermining the presidential election result with false claims about voter fraud and at least one vague threat to a state election official. Mulvaney in particular was known as an enabler of the president who did little to constrain Trump’s impulses. Even some people critical of officials who remained in Trump’s employ through such episodes said the resignations created political pressure that might act as a check on Trump now. The resignations may even have contributed to his belated condemnation Thursday of the violence at the Capitol, and his assurance of a peaceful transfer of power on Jan. 20, they said. “John Rhodes and Hugh Scott hadn’t been profiles in courage in standing up to Nixon. Still, it mattered when they did,” said William Kristol, a conservative writer and activist who has been critical of Trump, referring to the two senior-most Republicans in Congress who played a crucial role in persuading President Richard Nixon to resign in August 1974. Also read| Biden likes Trump's decision to skip inauguration, slams vaccine rollout Yet none of the departing Trump officials appear to be making the kind of self-sacrifice remembered in some famed resignations. Cyrus Vance resigned as secretary of state in 1980 in protest of President Jimmy Carter’s failed secret mission to rescue American hostages in Iran. Two senior Department of Health and Human Services officials quit in anger over President Bill Clinton’s decision to sign a sweeping 1996 welfare reform law. Trump’s first secretary of defense, Jim Mattis, quit after Trump’s sudden decision to remove U.S. troops from northeastern Syria. At least one Trump administration official appears to have invited his own firing this week: Gabriel Noronha, a State Department press aide, tweeted Wednesday that Trump was “entirely unfit to remain in office, and needs to go.” In what could not have been a surprise to him, Noronha was dismissed the following day. Others have been publicly rumored to be considering their plans, including the national security adviser, Robert C. O’Brien, who tweeted condemnations of Wednesday’s riot. O’Brien, who has spoken to friends about a future run for office, is said to be staying on for the sake of stability, but may have enjoyed reputational gain among Trump critics after a slew of news leaks cast him in a Hamlet-like role about his future. But Trump officials confirmed Friday that five National Security Council senior directors, handling issues including Russia and weapons of mass destruction, had quietly resigned from their jobs since Wednesday. In the cases of DeVos and Chao, some critics complained that by departing, they were forgoing an opportunity to do something far more consequential: join with other disgusted Cabinet officials in a potential effort to invoke the 25th Amendment and relieve Trump of his presidential duties. “At this late a stage, resignations help little beyond serving as late attempts at self-preservation,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., wrote on Twitter. “If Sec. Chao objects to yesterday’s events this deeply, she should be working the Cabinet to invoke the 25th amendment — not abdicating the seat that allows her to do so.” Alyssa Farah, who left as White House communications director weeks before the deadly mayhem in the Capitol, said it was clear then that Trump’s post-election behavior was intolerable. “I made the decision to step down in December because I saw where this was heading,” she told Politico in an interview published Friday.

Bravery or self-preservation? Resignations of Trump officials draw skepticism

The head of the EU executive called violence at the U.S. Capitol "outrageous" on Thursday (January 7) but said the fact Joe Biden was still confirmed by Congress proved that American democracy was resilient.

EU Chief: US Capitol violence 'outrageous' but US democracy is strong

The US President Donald Trump faced the threat on Thursday of a second impeachment, a day after his supporters breached the U.S. Capitol in a stunning assault on American democracy as Congress was certifying President-elect Joe Biden's victory.

Trump faces calls for removal, possible impeachment after US Capitol chaos

President Donald Trump conceded for the first time on Thursday (January 7) that Joe Biden will be the next U.S. president, a day after his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol as Congress was certifying Biden's victory.

Trump acknowledges Biden victory; condemns 'heinous attack' on Capitol

Supporters of President Donald Trump who stormed the U.S. Capitol, breaking windows and stealing things, could face charges including sedition, insurrection and rioting, Washington, D.C.'s top federal prosecutor said on Thursday.

Trump supporters who stormed US Capitol could face sedition charges

Hundreds of President Donald Trump's supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday (January 6) in a bid to overturn his election defeat, occupying the symbol of American democracy and forcing Congress to suspend a session to certify President-elect Joe Biden's victory.

US Capitol invaders smash windows, destroy furniture

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