In statements explaining their decisions, the members of Congress, who have all been Democrats thus far, cited Trump’s rhetoric on women, Muslims and immigrants, as well as concerns about the role Russian hacking may have played in the presidential election.
The boycott movement began with Georgia Rep. John Lewis, a civil rights icon, who said he did not view Trump as a “legitimate president” because of allegations that Russia attempted to sway the election in Trump’s favor. After Trump responded with several highly critical tweets about Lewis, Democrats rallied behind Lewis, and as of Saturday night, 17 members of Congress have announced they will not attend.
Arizona Rep. Raúl Grijalva
“My absence is not motivated by disrespect for the office or motivated by disrespect for the government that we have in this great democracy, but as an individual act, yes, of defiance at the disrespect shown to millions and millions of Americans by this incoming administration, and the actions we are taking in this Congress,” Grijalva said on the House floor Friday, per CNN.
California Rep. Barbara Lee
Rep. Barbara Lee
✔@RepBarbaraLee
Inauguration should be a celebration. But we have nothing to celebrate on Jan 20. Instead of attending, I will be organizing.
“Trump has made statements denigrating the patriotic and professional men and women of our intelligence services, many of whom risk their lives in service to our nation. He also continues to believe Vladimir Putin over our intelligence services and is actively misleading the American people when he denies Putin ordered a brazen, multifaceted cyberattack on America to benefit Trump,” Lieu wrote in a statement.
“On January 20, Trump will be in violation of Article 1, Section 9 of the Constitution because of the massive conflicts of interests he has with his global business holdings.”
California Rep. Mark Takano
Mark Takano
✔@RepMarkTakano
Mark DeSaulnier
✔@RepDeSaulnier
It is with a heavy heart and deep personal conviction that I have decided not to attend the #TrumpInauguration on January 20, 2017.
“I don’t see this president-elect as a legitimate president,” Lewis told Meet the Press. “I think the Russians participated in helping this man get elected, and they helped destroy the candidacy of Hillary Clinton. I don’t plan to attend the inauguration. It will be the first one that I miss since I’ve been in Congress.
Illinois Rep. Luis Gutiérrez
Gutierrez spoke from the House floor Wednesday, saying he “justify morally or intellectually the immense power we are placing in that man’s hands.”
Michigan Rep. John Conyers
A spokesperson for Coyners confirmed the decision with Politico.
Missouri Rep. William Lacy Clay
Clay told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch he will be “back home in St. Louis speaking to school kids” on Jan. 20.
New York Rep. Yvette Clarke
Yvette D. Clarke
✔@RepYvetteClarke
I will NOT attend the inauguration of @realDonaldTrump. When you insult @repjohnlewis, you insult America.
José E. Serrano
✔@RepJoseSerrano
I will not attend the #inauguration2017 next week- cannot celebrate the inauguration of a man who has no regard for my constituents. #Bronx
Rep. Nydia Velazquez
✔@NydiaVelazquez
.@repjohnlewis is a national hero and I stand with him! I also am not attending inauguration given the tone of @realDonaldTrump‘s campaign
Earl Blumenauer
✔@repblumenauer
It’s hard to think of a better use of my time on Jan 20 than to be in my District hearing from Oregonians.
Schrader told Oregon Public Broadcasting he will not “freeze my a–” at the inauguration, though, “I’ll do my best to work with (Trump) when I think he’s doing the right thing for the country.”
Oregon Rep. Peter DeFazio
DeFazio told Oregon Public Broadcasting that his decision not to attend was not a political statement about Trump. Rather, he said he typically avoids “pomp and circumstance events in Washington.”
Possibly Not Attending
New York Rep. Jerrold Nadler
The New York congressman tweeted a highly critical message of Trump after his statements on Lewis, and Politico reports that he is not attending, but he has not released any official statement. Politico also identified him as a New Jersey congressman. Nadler represents New York’s 10th District.
California Rep. Maxine Waters
Again, Waters has issued no official statement. However, she did tell Politico, “it’s just not interesting,” when asked why she wouldn’t be attending.
South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn
The highest ranking House Democrat to indicate he might not attend, Clyburn told Politico he will not attend if the weather is poor. Clyburn, who is the House Democratic Assistant Leader, is 76 years old.
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders
The one-time Democratic presidential candidate has said he will “probably” attend the ceremony, per Politico.
Source:kansascity.com