Vermont’s congressional delegation and their spouses Credit: File: Matthew Thorsen

Updated at 5:11 p.m.

Vermont’s congressional delegation will attend president-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on Friday, despite a boycott movement gaining momentum among their colleagues.

Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), as well as Congressman Peter Welch (D-Vt.), won’t be joining the protest, spokespeople for all three confirmed.

In a statement issued Tuesday, Welch said he’s heard from a number of Vermonters asking him to take part in the boycott.

“However, I believe the inaugural ceremony is about more than any individual. It is about the peaceful transition of power enshrined in our Constitution,” he said. “I believe it is my job to participate in, and be a witness to, this touchstone of our democracy and powerful symbol to the world. So, while I respect the decision of some of my colleagues to stay home, I will attend, but not celebrate, Friday’s ceremony.”

Leahy issued his own statement later Tuesday: “I am taking part as a member of the Senate, which is one of our foundational institutions,” he said. “I most certainly will not be taking part as a supporter of candidate Donald Trump, but as a guardian of our constitutional process and of the office of the presidency.”

Sanders’ office did not immediately respond to a request for further explanation.

As of Tuesday afternoon, at least 59 Democratic representatives were planning to skip Trump’s swearing-in ceremony to protest the incoming Republican head of state, according to a tally by the Washington Post.

Among them is Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), a civil rights icon who told NBC last Friday that he doesn’t consider Trump a “legitimate president.” A number of other lawmakers followed suit after Trump criticized Lewis on Twitter, calling him “all talk.”

In his statement, Welch said he was “sickened” by the president-elect’s comments.

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Alicia Freese was a Seven Days staff writer from 2014 through 2018.

11 replies on “Vermont Congressional Delegation to Attend Trump Inauguration”

  1. If you disagree with this decision, it can’t hurt to keep calling and let your representatives know you disagree:
    Welch – 202-225-4115
    Sanders – 202-224-5141
    Leahy – 202-224-4242

  2. If you agree with your elected delegation doing at least part of their job and supporting the constitution use the numbers listed above to offer your support. God bless America.

  3. I am glad to see their support, the inaugural ceremony is an important and proud tradition of a fairly elected President according to our Constitution. A boycott shows no respect for our 230 yrs. as a Country. God Bless America, and protect, and heal the damage that has been and is being done.

  4. We Vermonters are better. We will respect our country and its Constitution. And, then fight like he’ll to protect it from all enemies, both foreign and domestic.

  5. I don’t see how any reasonable person can disregard Russia interfering with the election. Can you imagine the outcry if the positions were reversed and Russia had assisted in electing Clinton? I am positive no republican would attend or support the inauguration and they would be setting up impeachment hearings.

  6. To those commenters who seem to have failed high school civics and United States history, attending the inaugural ceremonies has absolutely nothing to do with upholding the Constitution. The ceremonies are entirely without connection to the Constitution, except for the administering of the oath, which need not be accompanied by any ceremony at all. Boycotting the ceremony is NOT boycotting the Constitution or showing it any disrespect. Plenty of presidents have taken the oath with no ceremony at all. We Vermonters should know this above all others, since Calvin Coolidge took the oath by the light of a kerosene lamp on August 3, 1923 in the parlor of his family home in Plymouth Notch — after which he went back to bed.

  7. What angers you more, the Russians (allegedly) exposing Hillary Clinton’s web of lies or the fact that Hillary Clinton has such a web of lies to expose?

  8. I’m in agreement with Leonard Bast, and it’s probably a good political move too …its very clear that currying favor with a clearly punitive and mentally unstable President can be possibly helpful later on. If we all live, that is.

  9. Mr.Bast the important part of the story you left out of the Coolidge swearing in is that Coolidge became president only after the sudden death of President Harding. When Coolidge won his second term he was sworn in Washington. Also it might not be a constitutional requirement for congressmen and senators to attend, but it is important for them to support the American process. Even Hillary and Bill will be there and she lost. So if she can get over it and support America and our new president, these cry baby Democrats should get over themselves and get to the inauguration. P.S. Coolidge was a real Vermonter and a Republican. VT needs to return to its GOP roots.

  10. By going to the swearing in of the new Pres Trump shows respect for the office and most importantly show respect to the American citizens choice for Pres..These democrats Congressmen/Senators are forgetting who their bosses are..the American TAXPAYERS!!!
    Next election may be a wake up call to them..We did not vote in these fools to tell us how to vote, live or do..they need to realize we are the employers they are the employees..

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