WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) Co-Chairs Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) and Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), and CPC First Vice Chair Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI) made the following statement today after President-elect Trump announced Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL), Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, and Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-KS) as top-level officials in his administration.
“With every new staff announcement and cabinet appointment, Donald Trump makes it clear that his government is going to look exactly like his campaign: racist, islamophobic, and totally unfit. Michael Flynn, Trump’s pick for National Security Advisor, believes “fear of Muslims is rational,” and sees Islam as an enemy of our country. Jeff Sessions, the President-elect’s choice for Attorney General, believes the KKK isn’t so bad, and was blocked from becoming a federal judge because of his racist views. And Mike Pompeo, who Trump tapped to run the CIA, believes there was a conspiracy to cover up what happened in Benghazi despite ten Congressional inquiry findings to the contrary.
“The President-elect is making clear to the American people that he plans to govern exactly like he campaigned – surrounding himself with hateful and unfit supporters, and scapegoating and harassing ethnic and religious minorities. Trump campaigned on fear-mongering and the sad result is that the communities he disparaged are the very communities that now live in fear.
“As Democrats, we will never bow to intolerance and we will meet these appointments head-on by standing firmly on the side of victims and doing everything in our power to protect them and our Democracy.”
The Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) is the largest caucus within the House Democratic Caucus, with over 70 members standing up for progressive ideals in Washington and throughout the country. Since 1991, the CPC has advocated for progressive policies that prioritize working Americans over corporate interests, fight economic and social inequality, and promote civil liberties. The CPC champions progressive policy solutions like comprehensive immigration reform, a $15 national minimum wage, fair trade, gun violence reform, debt-free college, and making the federal government a Model Employer.
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