Elizabeth Warren Defends John Lewis, Says Trump ‘Stepped over a Line’
Video: @SenWarren says @realDonaldTrump ‘stepped over a line’ criticizing @repjohnlewis #mapoli pic.twitter.com/eu079Winf7
— Gintautas Dumcius (@gintautasd) January 16, 2017
Elizabeth Warren marked Martin Luther King Jr. Day by defending her Congressional colleague and civil rights icon John Lewis against President-Elect Donald Trump’s latest Twitter calumny.
Lewis, a former Freedom Rider who was savagely beaten by Alabama state troopers in the struggle for voting rights, explained why he would not attempt to forge a relationship with the incoming president in an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press.
“I believe in forgiveness. I believe in trying to work with people. It’s going to be hard. It’s going to be very difficult. I don’t see this president-elect as a legitimate president,” Lewis said. “I think there was a conspiracy on the part of the Russians and others that helped him get elected. That’s not right. That’s not fair. That’s not the open, democratic process.”
Trump fired back on Twitter, calling Lewis “all talk” and saying his district, which includes the most affluent part of Atlanta, is “falling apart.”
Congressman John Lewis should spend more time on fixing and helping his district, which is in horrible shape and falling apart (not to……
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 14, 2017
mention crime infested) rather than falsely complaining about the election results. All talk, talk, talk – no action or results. Sad!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 14, 2017
Congressman John Lewis should finally focus on the burning and crime infested inner-cities of the U.S. I can use all the help I can get!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 15, 2017
Speaking reporters after MLK Day breakfast, Warren castigated Trump for attacking the Georgia Democrat.
“The president-elect stepped over a line when he attacked John Lewis as a man who is all talk and no action,” Warren said. “John Lewis is a man who literally put his life on the line to make this a better country, a fairer country, a country that is more open. Donald Trump hasn’t put his life on the line for anyone except Donald Trump.”
Lewis joined a growing number of lawmakers who are skipping Trump’s inauguration next week in protest, including Rep. Katherine Clark.
“John Lewis has earned the right to raise questions about legitimacy,” Warren said. “Right now, our intelligence community tells us that Russia directly interfered in the election here in the United States. [If] John Lewis has a question about that and John Lewis wants not to attend because of that, that is certainly his right.”
