Saturday, Michigan Rep. Justin Amash became the first member of Donald Trump's party to declare that the president has committed impeachable offenses.
Amash made his case in a series of sober tweets after having read the entire (redacted) Mueller report. He focused on Trump's attempts to obstruct justice, patiently dissecting Attorney General Bill Barr's claim that such interference was impossible because there was no underlying crime.
From the reaction, one would have thought Amash had spewed a string of profanities at the First Family. "Loser!" the president predictably thundered; House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy sniffed that Amash was "just trying to draw attention to himself."
The House Freedom Caucus _ which Amash helped found on the principles of reduced spending and limited government _ condemned their colleague.
It is tragic and sadly funny to see Republicans toss aside their principles to smear a stalwart colleague while hugging a mercurial, vindictive and power-hungry president.
