Live updates: Chao to resign; Schumer calls for Trump to be removed

At least four conservative Senate Republicans are privately urging key senior White House officials not to resign as top administration aides contemplate leaving in protest after Trump incited an unprecedented violent assault of the Capitol on Wednesday.

Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) and three other senators have been making private phone calls to White House national security adviser Robert O’Brien and White House counsel Pat Cipollone to stay in their posts through Jan. 20, according to an official familiar with the effort. The names of the other three weren’t immediately available.

The reasoning from Lee and the senators is that despite Trump’s behavior Wednesday, there needs to be “strong leadership” remaining at the White House in the final days of the Trump presidency, said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive issue.

Sen. Joe Manchin III (D-W.Va.) also issued a statement Thursday afternoon urging Trump administration officials to remain in their posts until Biden’s swearing-in for the sake of the republic.

“No matter what course of action is taken against President Trump in 13 days, Joe Biden will be sworn in as President of the United States,” Manchin said. “Until then, I urge the good men and women honorably serving at all levels of the federal government to please stay at their post for the protection of our democracy. The actions of a rogue President will not and should not reflect on you. Instead, your patriotism and commitment to the greater good of our country will be reaffirmed.”