US Defense Secretary Esper said to have prepared resignation letter

5 November 2020, 11:26 pm

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US Defense Secretary Mark Esper has prepared an undated resignation letter, expecting to be pushed out after the election, NBC News reports citing three current defense officials.

Esper has long been reported to be at odds with President Trump on various issues, including using active-duty US soldiers to quell nationwide protests earlier this year.

However, NBC adds: “It’s not uncommon for Cabinet secretaries to prepare undated letters of resignation during a presidential transition, giving the commander in chief the chance to replace them for a second term. The president decides whether to accept the resignation letters, and the process usually occurs after the election results are clear.”