Sen. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersMcConnell accuses Democrats of sowing division by 'downplaying progress' on election security The Hill's Campaign Report: Arizona shifts towards Biden | Biden prepares for drive-in town hall | New Biden ad targets Latino voters Why Democrats must confront extreme left wing incitement to violence MORE (I-Vt.) on Thursday blasted the GOP lawmakers who have refused to hold in-person town hall events due to a flurry of recent protests.



"If you don't have the guts to face your constituents, then you shouldn't be in the United States Congress," Sanders said during an interview with CNN.



The former presidential candidate said the wave of angry of American voters greeting GOP lawmakers is a consequence of unpopular positions articulated by President Trump, including a call to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.

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"And if you need police at the meetings, that's fine, have police at the meetings, have security at the meetings. But don't use that as an excuse to run away from your constituents after you support repealing the Affordable Care Act, throwing 20 million people off of health insurance, doing away with preexisting conditions," he said.

"If you are going to do all those things, answer the questions that your constituents have."

GOP members of Congress, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellMcConnell focuses on confirming judicial nominees with COVID-19 talks stalled McConnell accuses Democrats of sowing division by 'downplaying progress' on election security Warren, Schumer introduce plan for next president to cancel ,000 in student debt MORE (Ky.), Sens. Tom Cotton Tom Bryant CottonLoeffler calls for hearing in wake of Netflix's 'Cuties' Health care in the crosshairs with new Trump Supreme Court list Cruz says he wouldn't accept Supreme Court nomination MORE (Ark.) and Bill Cassidy (La.) and Rep. Jason Chaffetz Jason ChaffetzThe myth of the conservative bestseller Elijah Cummings, Democratic chairman and powerful Trump critic, dies at 68 House Oversight panel demands DeVos turn over personal email records MORE (Utah), have been bombarded with protesters at home-town events over the weeklong Presidents' Day recess.

Trump claimed this week that many of the demonstrations were "planned out" by activists.

"The so-called angry crowds in home districts of some Republicans are actually, in numerous cases, planned out by liberal activists. Sad!" he tweeted on Tuesday.