“Through this resignation as a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates, with immediate effect,” he wrote in a brief letter addressed to West Virginia Governor Jim Justice.
Evans, a Trump supporter, recorded a video on Facebook Live in which he can be heard shouting, “We’re in! We’re in, baby!” as he moved through a crowd of hooligans as he walked through a Capitol door.
He denied participating in the destruction and violence and has since deleted the clip, but not before it was shared on social media and broadcast by CNN affiliate WCHS. In another video posted on his Facebook page on Wednesday morning, Evans laughs at predicting an uproar.
Evans said on Wednesday that he had filmed the event only as an “independent media member to film the story”, although he does not appear to have experience working as such.
The chairman of the West Virginia Republican Party said on Saturday that Evans “made the right decision” when he resigned.
“Derrick Evan’s actions were reckless and inadequate by an elected official,” said President Melody Potter in a statement.
Speaking during a briefing on Friday, Justice said of Evans’ involvement: “You know me, I don’t sweeten things up and I don’t try to give you a political answer. I think that’s terrible.”
“I think it’s a scar in West Virginia,” said the Republican governor. “He can make up any excuse in the world, but be there, running and entering the United States Capitol. I mean, how in the world can we possibly, possibly, think that this is anything but bad?”
Katelyn Polantz, Kara Scannell, Amanda Watts, Devan Cole, Taylor Romine and Evan Perez contributed to this report.