A prominent member of Senator Ted Cruz staff has resigned. Press secretary Lauran Blair Bianchi stepped down in the wake of last week's violence at the capitol and her former bosses rhetoric concerning the outcome of the election.
Senator Cruz has come under fire for speaking to a crowd of Trump supporters before Wednesday's riot and objecting to certifying of the votes for president elect Joe Biden. SMU political scientist Cal Jillson says she's Bianchi is saving her own skin.
"She intends apparently a political future and she doesn't want to go down with the ship as people are jumping out of the White House and other places."
Jillson says the communications director is generally among the top two or three staffers in a senate office. "Miss Bianchi has worked with senator Cruz for some time and only now decides that some of his actions and statements are beyond the pale, and she wants to get clean by resigning."
Jillson says Cruz' vocal objection to the results of the election has proven to be very unpopular. "To have stood against that hours before the capitol is sacked by a Trump inspired mob has some explaining required, so he's working very hard to do that."
He says Cruz is vulnerable in the same way Josh Hawley of Missouri is vulnerable and both are losing some of their close associates.
Jillson believes Cruz intention is to survive, recover and run for president in 2024, but says it remains to be seen whether that plan is still realistic.
The riot at the Capitol last week claimed five lives, including a Capitol police officer.
Missouri Democrat Cori Bush has introduced legislation that would call for the removal of those lawmakers who sought to overturn the election results.