Justin Amash, who has recently switched his party-affiliation to independent, said Sunday he would have left the Republican Party even if Donald Trump weren’t president.
Amash became the only Republican to call for Trump’s impeachment, posting in a mid-May Twitter thread that he believed the president engaged in impeachable conduct.
‘I’ve had concerns with the Republican Party for several years.’ the Michigan congressman told Jake Tapper on State of the Union Sunday morning.
‘I don’t think there is anyone in there who could change the system. It’s pretty rigid,’ he continued in explaining the president wasn’t the only reason he decided to abandon the GOP.
Michigan Representative Justin Amash explained Sunday that there are more factors than just President Trump that led him to switch political parties
In an opinion piece published July 4, Amash said he was leaving the Republican Party and declaring himself an independent – on the same day Americans celebrated their independence from Britian
Amash told CNN Sunday he has ‘had concerns with the Republican Party for several years’
The now-independent member wrote an opinion piece, which was published in the Washington Post on July 4th, that said he was leaving the Republican Party because he was ‘frightened’ by what he was seeing in the GOP.
The day of the announcement was no coincidence, as the U.S. celebrated its independence from Britain, Amash said he was ‘declaring my independence and leaving the Republican Party.’
And he even asked others to join him, adding that partisan politics is damaging democracy in America.
‘I’m asking you to join me in rejecting the partisan loyalties and rhetoric that divide and dehumanize us,’ he wrote.
Amash said Sunday that this term in Congress was the breaking point for him that led him to leave the party.
In May, Amash joined more than 50 Democrats in Congress that called for Trump’s impeachment following the release of Special Council Robert Mueller’s Russia report.
Those he represents in Michigan accused the congressman of being elected as a Republican, but serving as a Democrat.
Amash held a town hall in his district in Michigan after becoming the only Republican to call for the president’ impeachment. He received mixed reviews from constituents
Trump has called Amash a ‘lightweight’ and ‘loser,’ claiming he only called for impeachment because he wants attention
Trump said Amash leaving the GOP was ‘great news,’ adding he is the ‘most disloyal men (sic) in Congress’
He returned back home a few days after claiming Trump engaged in impeachable conduct, and held a town hall with constituents. He received mixed reviews from the crowd in Grand Rapids – some standing and cheering him for standing up against the administration, and others booing and criticizing him for his flip in loyalties.
The congressman immediately experienced fallout within the party after making the controversial stance.
He voluntarily stepped down from the right-wing House Freedom Caucus last month after pressure from Republicans who claimed he was creating too much division in the party.
Amash was one of the founding members of the influential conservative group.
The Michigan representative said during his remarks when quitting the caucus that he didn’t want to be a ‘further distraction.’
He told CNN he anticipates he could be kicked off of other groups now that he has switched his party affiliation.
‘I anticipate that I may be kicked off [the Oversight Committee],’ he admitted Sunday. ‘I understand the consequences of doing what I’m doing.’
‘I’ve tried to make changes from within, my colleagues have tried to make changes from within. It hasn’t worked,’ he continued, adding he hopes they will speak out in the same way he has.
Trump labeled Amash a ‘lightweight’ and ‘loser,’, claiming he was only calling for impeachment in order to gain attention through controversy.
When Amash switched independent, Trump said it was ‘great news’ for the GOP because they wouldn’t have to deal with one of the ‘most disloyal men (sic) in Congress.’
‘Great news for the Republican Party as one of the dumbest & most disloyal men in Congress is ‘quitting’ the Party,’ Trump tweeted last week. ‘No Collusion, No Obstruction! Knew he couldn’t get the nomination to run again in the Great State of Michigan. Already being challenged for his seat. A total loser!’