Michigan Republican Rep. Justin Amash announced Monday evening he is leaving the influential conservative House Freedom Caucus, just weeks after he attracted the ire of his colleagues by arguing in Twitter posts that President Trump had committed impeachable offenses, Fox News has learned.
Amash, speaking at a Freedom Caucus board meeting, insisted his departure was voluntary. Amash said he did not want to continue to be a “further distraction” for the caucus, which is chaired by North Carolina GOP Rep. Mark Meadows.
Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, a member of the Freedom Caucus, told Fox News’ “Ingraham Angle” Monday evening that Meadows and Amash mutually came to the decision after several conversations.
Jordan said the Republican members of the group still consider Amash a friend, but that their disagreements were “sharp” and significant.
“Some of the president’s actions were inherently corrupt,” Amash, who said Trump had “engaged in impeachable conduct,” tweeted in May. “Other actions were corrupt — and therefore impeachable — because the president took them to serve his own interests.”
Ugandan Evangelist Killed by Suspected Muslims After Sharing the Gospel
Israel, Jews targeted worldwide as well-funded leftist, Islamist groups join for ‘Nakba 78’ protests
This Midwestern state leads the nation in home foreclosures as US filings jump by 26%
Marine Vet Stops Gunman’s 60-Round Shooting Spree: Thankfully He Had a Concealed Carry Permit
Momentum builds to pass bill after Jack Smith’s secret Arctic Frost subpoenas
Bronx man convicted of running secret Chinese police station in Manhattan used to monitor dissidents
Trump touts ‘fantastic trade deals’ in final Xi meeting amid tariff standoff
Trump reveals Xi’s stance on arming Iran as Hormuz tensions rattle markets
Trump says Xi agreed US became a ‘declining nation’ during Biden years
US moving to indict former Cuban leader Raúl Castro: source
Gavin Newsom’s Former Chief of Staff Pleads Guilty to 3 Federal Charges, Faces 38 Years in Prison
McMaster revives Trump-backed push to oust Biden kingmaker from Congress
Fox News Crew Snared by China’s Massive Surveillance System While Covering Trump Visit: ‘They See Everything’
Absurd: China Literally Changes Marco Rubio’s Name During Trip – Lets Communists Avoid Admitting They Made a Huge Mistake
Man shot at In-N-Out drive-thru drove family to safety with bullet lodged in head
Amash also accused Attorney General Bill Barr of intentionally misrepresenting Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report through lawyerly sleights of hand.
President Trump responded by writing that Amash was a “loser” and a “lightweight” seeking to gain national name recognition.
At a town hall in Grand Rapids, Mich., late last month, some of Amash’s constituents excoriated him for pushing for impeachment, while several others commended him for breaking ranks with his party and standing on principle.
“You talk about the Constitution and how important that is, but yet nothing that Mueller came out within this report, nothing that has been said about him and President Trump is constitutional — it’s been a smear tactic, because that’s how the Democrats work,” one Trump supporter told Amash.
“How can you become a Democrat when we voted for you as a Republican?” the attendee continued. “Because you’ve just drank the same Kool-Aid as all the Democrats.”
Ugandan Evangelist Killed by Suspected Muslims After Sharing the Gospel
Israel, Jews targeted worldwide as well-funded leftist, Islamist groups join for ‘Nakba 78’ protests
This Midwestern state leads the nation in home foreclosures as US filings jump by 26%
Marine Vet Stops Gunman’s 60-Round Shooting Spree: Thankfully He Had a Concealed Carry Permit
Momentum builds to pass bill after Jack Smith’s secret Arctic Frost subpoenas
Bronx man convicted of running secret Chinese police station in Manhattan used to monitor dissidents
Trump touts ‘fantastic trade deals’ in final Xi meeting amid tariff standoff
Trump reveals Xi’s stance on arming Iran as Hormuz tensions rattle markets
Trump says Xi agreed US became a ‘declining nation’ during Biden years
US moving to indict former Cuban leader Raúl Castro: source
Gavin Newsom’s Former Chief of Staff Pleads Guilty to 3 Federal Charges, Faces 38 Years in Prison
McMaster revives Trump-backed push to oust Biden kingmaker from Congress
Fox News Crew Snared by China’s Massive Surveillance System While Covering Trump Visit: ‘They See Everything’
Absurd: China Literally Changes Marco Rubio’s Name During Trip – Lets Communists Avoid Admitting They Made a Huge Mistake
Man shot at In-N-Out drive-thru drove family to safety with bullet lodged in head
Amash then defended his record in Congress, telling the town hall attendees he has “one of the most constitutionally conservative and fiscally conservative” voting records of all sitting lawmakers and that he’s at the top “of nearly all the scorecards” of conservative groups.
Amash had a high 88 rating from the American Conservative Union (ACU) in 2018, up from 78 in 2017. Jordan scored 100 for both years, while Meadows notched 91 and 100, respectively. The group’s Federal Legislative Ratings scores members of Congress based on how they vote in line with conservative principles. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., by contrast, had a 4 rating in 2018.
Another woman at the town hall, Anna Timmer, criticized Amash for “grandstanding” and trying to raise his “national profile,” while arguing that an impeachment inquiry would “tear this country apart.”
