Justin Amash, First Republican to Call for Trump's Impeachment, Quits GOP

Rep. Justin Amash of Michigan, the only Republican in Congress to call for impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump, said Thursday he is leaving the GOP because he has become disenchanted with partisan politics and “frightened by what I see from it.”

In an opinion article published in the Washington Post , on July 4, Amash said partisan politics is damaging American democracy.

“I am declaring my independence and leaving the Republican Party,” Amash said. “I’m asking you to join me in rejecting the partisan loyalties and rhetoric that divide and dehumanize us.”

Amash had been the only Republican in Congress to say Trump engaged in impeachable conduct, drawing the ire of many fellow Republicans and Trump. In a series of tweets on May 18 , Amash said that he had read special counsel Robert Mueller’s report on Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election.

“Mueller’s report reveals that President Trump engaged in specific actions and a pattern of behavior that meet the threshold for impeachment,” Amash said at the time.

He was roundly criticized by fellow Republicans and withdrew from the Freedom Caucus of conservatives in Congress after the group disavowed his views.

At a town hall in Michigan after he announced his support for impeachment proceedings, Amash cited a section of the Mueller report that suggested Trump had told former White House counsel Don McGahn to create a “false record” denying he had asked for Mueller’s removal as special counsel.

“Things like that to me reflect incredible dishonesty and really harm the office of the presidency. I don’t think that you can just let that stuff go,” Amash told his constituents. “I think you have to have proceedings to deter this kind of conduct even if ultimately the person is not convicted.”

Under the Constitution, the House has the power to begin impeachment proceedings and the Senate would decide whether to convict.

Trump responded immediately to Amash’s announcement that he is quitting the GOP, tweeting Thursday: “Great news for the Republican Party as one of the dumbest & most disloyal men in Congress is ’quitting” the Party.” Trump called Amash a “total loser.”

Amash, whose voting record in Congress is considered libertarian-leaning, has represented Michigan’s 3rd Congressional district in the western part of the state since 2011.

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[davidkauer]

Wish he wasn't from Michigan. Very sad

[JJ_Justice]

Truer words were NEVER spoken about the partisanship

[terrytownsend]

I live in Michigan I wouldn't vote for Amash the Congress is starting to look like the Muslim Brotherhood.

[anthonymorelli]

YOU CAN JUST LOOK AT THEM AND TELL THEY'RE FOR SALE, THEY ALL HAVE THAT SAME WEASEL BACKSTABBING NO LOYALTY NO HONOR FACE,

[doratiscareno]

JUSTIN Amash MUSLEM
*....Father....PALESTINIAN
*....Mother....SYRIAN
👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎
Not My Anything🇺🇸
He's NOT AMERCIAN

[pattyofurniture]

He just committed political suicide! He's out in 2022

[rainycat]

The first and the last. Mostly likely just another one of many spies.

[kimwood]

This guy is a P.O.S !   the sooner he's gone the better.There are far too many folks in Washington  who put their personal interest first.  its a good thing for GOPand I would say the American People .   Don't worry  we'll manage without you.  Goodbye !!

[sagatuppercut]

Justin should leave the Republican party and become an Independent candidate.

[catoyz]

Finally a Republican that isn't playing deaf, dumb and blind. AMASH 2020!

[lillones]

"trump has engaged in impeachable conduct"


mind going into any detail on this call to overthrow a different branch of government?

[kennethgray]

I keep hearing people saying that Justin Amash is a True Patriotic Republican Superhero. I've even heard there is talk about putting Justin Amash's face on Mount Rushmore.

[roboh]

A RINO from Michigan, doesn't surprise me a bit.

[WuFluChan]

1. No the report is out now just stop
2. As in... pretty broad statement with nothing to back it up
3. Yes yes it has but that would be the left
4. Most of them probably can’t read and they have the report but orange man bad so me not read reee

[Crager]

Sanders, Gabbard, or Yang... no other option.

[kensalazar]

Who ? Justin who? CLEARLY here is a virtually unknown congressman looking for attention! 🐣🥳🥴🤯

[Byjones]

send him packing---part of the huge swamp

[Lowenssohn]

I believe the term is 'RINO'. Wonder what Nancy promised him.

[rudy]

Does this guy really think the voters are that stupid? Impeach the guy you have to run against? What a dope.

[willieboy]

Impeach president Trump for what? Beating Hillary in the election, I got it. Amash is just another RINO looking for leftist love. Hook up with Romney, kid.