Hours after Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) announced that he would boycott the January 20 swearing-in of President-Elect Donald Trump, Mr. Trump took to Twitter to denounce the veteran Democratic lawmaker and civil rights leader, telling him to deal with his "crime infested" district in Atlanta.
"Congressman John Lewis should spend more time on fixing and helping his district, which is in horrible shape and falling apart," Trump wrote in pair of Saturday morning tweets.
Credit: Jamie Dupree
Credit: Jamie Dupree
Coming just two days before the federal holiday to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Mr. Trump's tweets set off a stir on social media.
In an interview with NBC's Meet the Press, Lewis said he would not go to next Friday's Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol, as he said Mr. Trump was not a "legitimate President."
"I don't plan to attend to the Inauguration," Lewis said, who said he thought there "was a conspiracy on the part of Russia and others" to get Trump elected.
Some other Democrats have already said they will boycott the Trump inaugural, but others said they felt it was their duty to be there; Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) told reporters just off the House floor that he will be at the inaugural.
One Republican Senator urged Lewis to reconsider his decision to boycott the Inauguration.
Some others weren't so sure of their next move.
"I haven't made up my mind," said Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA), "but I do have my plane reservations."
"I'm leaning towards attending; it's to show my gratitude to the Obamas and the Bidens as they transfer power, and also to recognize the peaceful transfer over power," Johnson told me.
But Johnson made clear that he is wrestling with the right decision, clearly aggravated by some of the things that Mr. Trump has said.
And this Trump jab at Johnson's colleague from Georgia may figure into that calculus as well.
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