Democrat explains why she’s going to Trump’s inauguration

Democratic Rep. Gwen Moore (Wis.) on Wednesday defended her decision to attend President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration as the number of Democrats boycotting the ceremony neared 60.

Moore, who has been in Congress since 2005, referenced Trump’s war of words in recent days with Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) in explaining her decision to attend the ceremony.

“I weighed my responsibility as an elected official against my disgust over the president-elect’s vile tactics employed to ascend to the presidency and the disrespectful treatment of revered civil rights icon Congressman John Lewis,” Moore said in a statement.

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Moore, who has criticized Trump for his position on “stop-and-frisk,” said she looked to first lady Michelle Obama in making her decision to ultimately attend the president-elect’s swearing-in on Friday, citing a refrain from “abandoning decency in the face of intolerance and moral depravity.”

The congresswoman emphasized that she believes Trump’s positions are “repugnant” and that “a majority of my constituents feel the same.”

“As a proud Democrat, I want President-elect Trump to see me front and center as he’s sworn in. I want him to see exactly what his opposition looks like,” she said. “When he sees me, I want him to see The Resistance.”

Dozens of Democrats have announced their boycott of the inauguration after Trump over the weekend accused Lewis, a civil rights icon, of being “all talk” and “no action.”

Lewis, who was among the first lawmakers to indicate they wouldn’t attend the inauguration, said he didn’t think Trump was a “legitimate president,” citing Russian-backed hacking leading up to his electoral win.