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Connecticut's Congressional Delegation Offers Mixed Congrats To Trump

FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Conn. -- Connecticut lawmakers delivered mixed messages following the inauguration of President Donald J. Trump on Friday afternoon in Washington.

Connecticut Senators Chris Murphy, right, and Richard Blumenthal, second from right, congratulated incoming President Donald J. Trump but also asked the new President to stop personal attacks.

Connecticut Senators Chris Murphy, right, and Richard Blumenthal, second from right, congratulated incoming President Donald J. Trump but also asked the new President to stop personal attacks.

Photo Credit: Meredith Guinness

U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy and Rep. Elizabety Esty, all Democrats, congratulated Trump but also offered advice for the incoming President.

Blumenthal, Connecticut's senior Senator, delivered the least combative message. 

"The peaceful transition of power today is the hallmark of our democracy,'' Blumenthal said. "This bedrock principle is greater than any single person who holds the office of President. A dedication to such core Constitutional principles commits me to continue to fight for what is right and necessary in the days ahead,."

Murphy thanked outgoing President Barack Obama and said he would work with Trump. But he also warned the President not to pursue divisive policies.

"I truly wish President Trump well, and I pledge to work with him if he chooses to chart a path that brings the country together and helps the people of Connecticut,'' Murphy said. "No one should root for an American President to fail, and I will be there to work with him if he wishes to work with me. But President Trump's address sounded a lot like his campaign speeches, suggesting he is going to pursue the kind of hurtful and divisive policies that were the hallmark of his campaign. If he chooses this path, I will fight his agenda with every ounce of my being."

Murphy said the choice is for Trump to make as to how he will govern. "President Trump can extend a hand of cooperation and govern in a way that brings this country together, or he can be a President who purposely cuts this country in half. I pray that he chooses wisely,'' Murphy said.

Esty said Trump needs to stop personal attacks and developing feuds on Twitter to take the country forward.  

"Let today be the day that President Trump drops his reckless assault on America’s intelligence agencies and starts standing up for America’s security and our place as the leader of the free world,'' Esty said. "Let today be the day that President Trump leads his Republican Party away from the shameful political crusade against Americans’ health coverage and begins reaching across the aisle on a real strategy to improve care for all Americans."

Esty added: “Let today be the day President Trump starts following through on his pledge to work together to revitalize our nation’s infrastructure, improve care for our nation’s veterans, and promote American manufacturing. If he is truly committed to tackling these and other problems in a bipartisan way, then I stand ready to work with him. There is so much good and important work that the American people are counting on all their elected officials to do together. It is time for us to put country first.”

Esty represents Connecticut's 5th District, which includes Bethel, Brookfield Danbury, New Fairfield, Newtown and Sherman.

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