Days after Rep. Justin Amash said President Trump engaged in “impeachable conduct,” a challenger has announced he’s running against the incumbent in the 2020 Republican primary.
Michigan state Rep. Jim Lower announced his campaign against the five-term congressman Monday, saying Mr. Amash is “out of touch” with his district.
“Congressman Justin Amash tweets yesterday calling for President Trump’s impeachment show how out of touch he is with the truth and how out of touch he is with people he represents,” Mr. Lower said in a statement, The Detroit News reported.
“Amash has not only failed to support President Trump as the president works to make the United States stronger and safer, he has now united with radical liberals like Democratic congresswomen Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit) to try and bring down our president,” he said. “He must be replaced, and I am going to do it.”
Mr. Lower said he planned to announce his campaign on the Fourth of July, but moved his announcement up as a response to Mr. Amash’s comments, the Detroit News reported.
Mr. Amash became the first and currently only Republican to say special counsel Robert Mueller’s report outlined “impeachable conduct” by Mr. Trump.
He also tweeted Attorney General William P. Barr “has deliberately misrepresented Mueller’s report” and that “few members of Congress have read the report.”
Republicans quickly blasted Mr. Amash’s comments, with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy saying he “wants to have attention” and Mr. Trump calling him a “lightweight” and a “loser.”
Mr. Amash said in March he hasn’t ruled out running against Mr. Trump as a third-party candidate in 2020.
• Bailey Vogt can be reached at bvogt@washingtontimes.com.
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