Rep. Justin Amash (R-MI) on Monday stepped down from the House Freedom Caucus and the board, saying he "didn't want to be a further distraction from the group," POLITICO reported. "I have the highest regard for them and they're my close friends."
The Michigan representative told CNN he stopped attending Freedom Caucus meetings months ago after clashing with members of the group. He did, however, attend a board meeting on Monday before resigning.
"It was a positive meeting. It wasn't negative," Amash said.
Although Amash is one of the group's founding members, over the last year he has been at odds with others in the Caucus. Specifically, Amash has called for President Donald Trump's impeachment following Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report.
"Some of the president's actions were inherently corrupt," Amash tweeted in May. "Other actions were corrupt -- and therefore impeachable -- because the president took them to serve his own interests."
The Congressman also said Attorney General William Barr intentionally misrepresented Special Counsel Robert Mueller's findings as a means of protecting Trump.
Amash was also at odds with other Freedom Caucus members last year when fellow member Rep. Mark Sanford (R-SC) faced a pro-Trump candidate during the primary. Sanford ended up losing the primary.
Amash now has his own struggles back in Michigan. He's facing multiple primarily challengers, especially after calling for Trump's impeachment. Some have said he's considering a 2020 run as a libertarian as a means of challenging Trump.
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