Ex-GOP congressman blasts 'pathetic' Republicans for bowing to 'dishonest tyrant' Trump — despite privately agreeing with Rep. Amash

Former Republican congressman Joe Walsh, who served Illinois's 8th congressional district in the House of Representatives, on Monday slammed his fellow party members for rushing to criticize Rep. Justin Amash (R-MI) after the GOP congressman called for impeachment proceedings against the president.

Walsh’s remarks came after Amish on Saturday said on Twitter that he supports holding impeachment proceedings against Trump after having read special counsel Robert Mueller’s report in its entirety. Following Amash’s tweets, Republicans in Congress slammed the Michigan Republican, with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) going so far as to question whether Amash is “even in our Republican conference as a whole.”

Speaking with CNN’s Brooke Baldwin, Walsh explained that Republicans are rushing to defend Trump because, simply, “they want to get reelected.”

“Justin Amash spoke the truth,” Walsh said. “ … And this is what’s so pathetic: it took real courage for Amash to say what he said. But it shouldn’t take real courage to just speak the truth. He called out Trump for being a dishonest tyrant who has obstructed justice, and Brooke, anybody whose read that Mueller report knows that this president obstructed justice, but, again, he said publicly, Brooke, what near every Republican privately believes but they’re scared to say it because we’re no longer the party of issues. We are now the party of Donald Trump, Brooke. You got to get down on your knees and bow to this president if you want to keep your office.”

Asked about Mitt Romney (R-UT), who on Sunday said he disagrees with Amash’s assessment of the Mueller report (despite having previously claimed he was “sickened” by Trump’s actions), Walsh said the Utah senator’s tepid response is “classic Mitt Romney wanting to have it both ways.”

“Amash spoke the truth,” Walsh explained. “And I think Kevin McCarthy — you’re getting so much pushback now that Republicans because they don’t want other Republicans to come out and say what Amash said. Amash, I know him well. He’s one of the most conservative members of the Freedom Caucus, but it no longer matters where you are on issues now. You’ve got to pray and bow and worship to this president if you want to be a Republican and stay in office.”

Baldwin asked if Walsh believes Republicans have simply chosen not to read the Mueller report and instead assume Trump’s innocence as portrayed by Attorney General William Barr.

“100 percent,” Walsh replied. “Absolutely. Think about this: for two years, when Republicans controlled the house, they didn’t conduct any oversight on this president. They made up their mind that they’re going to protect this president instead of protecting the Constitution. They’re continuing to do that right now when they’re out of power.”