Justin Amash, a Republican representative from Michigan, has become the first GOP member of Congress to publicly say that Donald Trump should be impeached. Amash, though a libertarian, is a founding member of the House Freedom Caucus, whose members tend to be significantly more right-leaning than other Republicans. Until Justin Amash’s recent statements, the support for impeachment has been split along party lines.
On Saturday, May 18, Amash tweeted that he had come to four conclusions after reading the redacted Mueller report.
“Here are my principal conclusions:”
“1. Attorney General Barr has deliberately misrepresented Mueller’s report.
2. President Trump has engaged in impeachable conduct.
3. Partisanship has eroded our system of checks and balances.
4. Few members of Congress have read the report.”
“I offer these conclusions,” said Amash, “only after having read Mueller’s redacted report carefully and completely, having read or watched pertinent statements and testimony, and having discussed this matter with my staff, who thoroughly reviewed materials and provided me with further analysis.”
Justin Amash, known for standing on principal, has frequently been at odds with Trump, as well as with fellow Republicans. This is significant because Amash is ultra-conservative. With his recent statements supporting Trump’s impeachment, he is taking a position that has been associated with the Democrats. This partisan thinking, Amash points out, is preventing meaningful and productive activity —namely justice — from occurring.
“Our system of checks and balances relies on each branch jealously guarding its powers and upholding its duties under our Constitution. When loyalty to a political party or to an individual trumps loyalty to the Constitution, the Rule of Law — the foundation of liberty — crumbles.”
Not all Democrats currently support impeachment of Trump. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has advised a prudent approach, pointing out that rushing to impeachment could backfire and cost the Democrats the 2020 presidential election.
But Justin Amash reminds us all that our government is not in place to interpret the law or the Constitution for partisan political gain:
“America’s institutions depend on officials to uphold both the rules and spirit of our constitutional system even when to do so is personally inconvenient or yields a politically unfavorable outcome. Our Constitution is brilliant and awesome; it deserves a government to match it,” said Amash.
GOP congressman among first to say Trump impeachment possible | CBS News [2019-05-17]
GOP Rep. Justin Amash Calls For Trump’s Impeachment With No Specific Reason | Own the Libs with Facts [2019-05-18]
