Venice Rep. Ted Lieu to Boycott Donald Trump's Inauguration Friday

LOS ANGELES, CA -- A Democratic congressman representing Venice-Mar Vista will boycott the inauguration of Donald Trump on Friday, he said.

Rep. Ted Lieu will be one of at least 16 Democrats avoiding the ceremony. His decision was announced Saturday, after the president-elect scolded civil rights leader and Rep. John Lewis, D-Georgia, in an early-morning Twitter blast.

"Trump -- who lost the popular vote -- has made a series of racist, sexist and bigoted statements," Lieu said in an email Saturday.

The congressman accused Trump of being in violation of the U.S. Constitution the minute he takes the oath of office, "because of the massive conflicts of interest he has with his global business holdings.

That provision of the Constitution was designed to prevent foreign influence over American elected officials," he wrote.

Lieu, an assistant minority whip in the House of Representatives, said he agrees with Trump on some issues, such as withdrawing from the "flawed Trans-Pacific partnership." But the said the incoming president's policies on creating a registry based on religion is unconstitutional.

"For me, the personal decision not to attend the inauguration is quite simple: Do I stand with Donald Trump, or do I stand with John Lewis?"

-- City News Service, photo courtesy of Ted Lieu's Office.