WASHINGTON DC, January 7. / TASS /. Ryan Tully, senior director for Russia and European affairs at the White House National Security Council (SNC), has stepped down after riots in Washington DC on Wednesday, according to Reuters' source in the US administration.

According to the source, a number of other SNC officials are expected to announce their resignation soon. The source added that the announcement of the January 20 hand-over was "appropriately" made by President Donald Trump in part to prevent further resignations, however, according to the official, this is unlikely to stop those who have already made the decision to leave office. Trump's statement in question was released on Thursday night. In it, the American leader said that although he did not agree with the results of the elections held in the country, he intends on January 20 to properly carry out the transfer of power to Democrat Joseph Biden.

On January 6, Trump supporters gathered in Washington DC to march in support of thousands and stormed the Capitol building, breaking through police cordons. The Senate and the House of Representatives of the Congress had to suspend for several hours a joint meeting devoted to the approval of the results of the November presidential elections. Biden became their winner, but Trump did not admit defeat. A significant share of the responsibility for the demonstrators' incursion into Congress was placed by American politicians from both systemic parties on the incumbent head of state, accusing him of inciting insurrection.

Earlier, the American media reported that amid the unrest, the Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security Matthew Pottinger, as well as the US Special Envoy for Northern Ireland, Mick Mulvaney, decided to leave their posts.