Dominic Raab, the United Kingdom's deputy prime minister, resigned on Friday after an independent investigation found that he had bullied civil servants. Raab had promised to resign if the investigation found any evidence of bullying, and he kept his word.
The investigation was launched in November after eight formal complaints were lodged against Raab by at least 24 staff members. The complaints alleged that Raab had been abusive and intimidating toward staff members during his time as justice secretary and while serving as Britain's foreign secretary and Brexit secretary.
The investigation found that Raab had bullied two of the complainants. It also found that he had created a "toxic" work environment for staff members. Raab apologized for his behavior, but he said that he did not believe that he had bullied anyone intentionally.
Raab's resignation is a blow to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who has been under pressure to clean up the government's image following a series of scandals. Sunak has now lost three senior ministers over their personal conduct in the last six months.
The resignation is also likely to damage the Conservative Party's chances of winning the next general election. The party is already trailing in the polls, and Raab was seen as a potential future leader.
Raab's resignation is a reminder that even the most powerful people are not above the law. It is also a warning to other politicians that they will be held accountable for their actions.