U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, on Monday condemned President-elect Donald Trump’s appointment of Stephen Bannon as his chief strategist.
“We’ve been asked to give President-elect Trump the ‘benefit of the doubt,’ but I think this dispels any hope that he would finally distance himself from people who promote hateful, racist scapegoating,” Pingree said in a written statement.
Bannon was the executive chairman of Breitbart News before joining the Trump campaign in August. In one of his first appointments, Trump named him chief strategist and senior counsel.
Bannon’s appointment drew widespread criticism Monday, including by those who say Breitbart has given voice to the alt-right movement that is supported by white nationalists. Trump’s team has defended Bannon, who also has served in the U.S. Navy and worked on Wall Street.
Pingree added her voice to critics who said the appointment was a bad sign about the Trump administration.
“Steve Bannon has a history of peddling conspiracy theories from the far-right fringe as he slanders Jews, Muslims, immigrants, women, LGBT Americans and others while promoting white nationalism. His presence will absolutely defile the White House and, like many Mainers, I’m absolutely horrified that he will play a critical role on the president’s new team,” Pingree said in her statement. “A majority of voters did not want Donald Trump to be president, and many are rightfully scared about what his presidency will mean for their rights and lives. If President-elect Trump and my Republican colleagues are serious about dispelling fears and unifying the country, Bannon’s appointment should be rescinded.”
Other members of Maine’s congressional delegation did not respond to requests for comment on Bannon’s appointment.
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