Tipsheet

House Freedom Caucus Formally Condemns Justin Amash

It was unanimous. The House Freedom Caucus formally condemned Rep. Justin Amash's (R-MI) recent call to begin impeachment proceedings against President Trump at a Monday meeting. Having read the Robert Mueller report in its entirety, Amash tweeted over the weekend that there were enough questions in there to suggest Trump obstructed justice and engaged in "impeachable conduct."

“It was every single person who totally disagrees with what he says,” Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) said after the Freedom Caucus voted on Amash's Twitter thread. They did not go so far as to vote him out of the conservative caucus, however.

Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) also recently expressed his disappointment in the congressman's new impeachment campaign. He was particularly confused as to why Amash claimed that few members of Congress have read the Mueller report. According to Biggs, that's simply not true.

"Justin's a friend but Justin's wrong," Biggs said.

GOP state Rep. Jim Lower agrees. And that's why he plans to primary Amash.

Amash clearly engendered the wrath of some other Republican colleagues, but he is finding support across the aisle. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (R-MI) tweeted that Amash is welcome to stop by her office and discuss impeachment at any time.

On CNN Tuesday morning, Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA) also praised the Republican, noting that Amash is one of the few truly independent voices in Congress. 

"He has a very strong sense of purpose and I think he's one of the few Republicans who’ve actually read the Mueller report," she said. 

Amash is even more gung ho on impeachment, it seems, than Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. In a closed-door meeting with colleagues on Monday, Pelosi again insisted now is not the time. She, of course, is getting push back from some of the more progressive politicians.

"I personally believe...we have to move forward," Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) said.