Sen. Jeff Sessions doesn’t have a history of standing up for “what is fair and what is just” and appears to be OK with limiting voting rights for black people, Rep. John Lewis said in an interview Sunday.
Appearing on “Meet The Press” on NBC, Lewis said he testified against Sessions, President-elect Trump’s pick for attorney general, because Sessions does not seem opposed to voting rights being limited.
“Well, when a Supreme Court decision came down a few short years ago when the Supreme Court gutted the heart and soul of the Voting Rights Act, he said this is good, this is good for Alabama,” Lewis said. “It’s not good for Alabama. It’s not good for the south. It’s not good for America. We need to open up the political process and let everybody come in.”
Lewis said if Sessions is confirmed, as he is expected to be, he’ll work to pressure him to “do the right thing” and protect minorities.
However, he expects to have a more difficult time working with Trump.
The full interview aired for the first time Sunday after being released in part on Friday. During that portion of the interview, Lewis said he doesn’t view Trump as a legitimate president. That comment set Trump off with the president-elect sending multiple tweets on Saturday attacking Lewis.
“You know, I believe in forgiveness. I believe in trying to work with people. It will be hard. It’s going to be very difficult. I don’t see this president-elect as a legitimate president,” Lewis said.
“I think the Russians participated in helping this man get elected. And they helped destroy the candidacy of Hillary Clinton. I don’t plan to attend the inauguration. It will be the first one that I miss since I’ve been in the Congress. You cannot be at home with something that you feel that is wrong, is not right.”
Lewis expanded on his comments, saying that Trump should visit Selma, Ala., to learn more about the civil rights movement and maybe that would cause him to soften some of his rhetoric.
But, Lewis wouldn’t want to go with him, he said.
“Well, I wouldn’t invite him to come,” Lewis said, adding, “I wouldn’t try to do anything to prevent him from coming.”
Lewis said Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who is being celebrated on Monday, would tell his supporters in time like the present to continue moving forward and keep their spirits up.
He said King would want to take on Trump with a positive attitude.
“Dr. King would say to all of us to never give up, never become bitter, be hopeful, be optimistic and keep pushing.” Lewis said.
