Rep. John Lewis says he believes Donald Trump’s victory in the presidential election is not valid due to Russia’s efforts to tip the results by hacking and releasing private Democratic Party emails.
“I don’t see this president-elect as a legitimate president,” Lewis, a Georgia Democrat, says in an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press” to be aired on Sunday.
“I think the Russians participated in helping this man get elected. And they helped destroy the candidacy of Hillary Clinton.”
Asked whether he would try to forge a relationship with Trump, Lewis said, “it’s going to be very difficult.”
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The veteran lawmaker also reveals he doesn’t plan to attend next Friday’s inauguration.
“It will be the first one that I miss since I’ve been in Congress. You cannot be at home with something that you feel that is wrong, is not right,” Lewis said.
Lewis, considered a civil-rights giant, has represented Georgia in the U.S. House since 1987.
