WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer of the 6th Congressional District and U.S. Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell of Washington state plan to attend Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration today.
Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor, will not join the 65 members of the House — a quarter of all members — who plan to boycott it.
“I did not support Donald Trump and oppose much of what he stands for, but on Friday, he will take an oath to uphold the Constitution and become our next president,” Kilmer, whose district includes the North Olympic Peninsula, said in a prepared statement. “For this reason, I plan to be in Washington, D.C., to witness it.”
Cantwell, D-Mountlake Terrace, will be at Trump’s swearing-in ceremony but will return to the Senate floor this afternoon for key votes on Trump nominees for national security positions, Cantwell Press Secretary Bryan Watt said Thursday.
“She believes the inauguration and the peaceful transition of power are important to the Democratic process, and she wants to show the process the respect it deserves,” Watt said.
Murray, D-Seattle, plans to attend “to witness the peaceful transfer of power,” Murray’s press secretary, Kerry Arndt, said in an email. “She also respects the decision of any member, official or citizen to do otherwise.”
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at pgottlieb@ peninsuladailynews.com.
