House Republican 'finds himself in the right’s crosshairs' over opposition to Biden impeachment

Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO), a member of the ultraconservative House Freedom Caucus who sits on the House Judiciary Committee, “ finds himself in the right’s crosshairs” over his opposition to a Republican-lead effort to impeach President Joe Biden, CNN reports.

Buck, a former Department of Justice prosecutor, has made a number of statements that are at-odds with the GOP’s impeachment effort, which is being led in large part by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH). Those statements, CNN reports “have put a target on [Buck’s] back in conservative circles.”

In July, Buck accused House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) of dangling impeachment like “ a shiny object,” telling CNN’s Dana Bash, “I don’t think it’s responsible for us to talk about impeachment.”

POLL: Should Trump be allowed to hold office again?

“When you start raising the ‘I’ word it sends a message to the public and it sets expectations,” Buck said.

More recently, Buck has taken public heat from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), who told CNN she doesn’t see how Republicans “can have a member on the Judiciary (Committee) that is flat out refusing to impeach.”

“It seems like, can he even be trusted to do his job at this point?” Greene said.

Speaking to radio host George Brauchler on Sept. 7, Buck fired back at Greene after the Georgia Republican accused Buck of being “ currently on record now supporting Joe Biden’s election, against impeachment inquiry of Joe Biden, and IN FAVOR AND SUPPORT of Biden’s DOJ persecution of J6’ers!”

READ MORE: Kevin McCarthy ready to move forward with Biden impeachment inquiry

“When Marjorie Taylor Greene was teaching CrossFit, she learned a whole different set of values, evidently, because my idea of what this country should be like is based on the Constitution, and she sees the world differently,” Buck told Brauchler.

“She's criticized me for, you know, voting to certify the election in 2020,” Buck continued. “The Constitution says Congress shall count the votes — it doesn't say Congress may overturn an election result, it doesn't say Congress can do whatever the heck it wants with this election. 'Shall count the votes.' That's what the Constitution says. In her CrossFit class, maybe they didn't cover that.”

"The Constitution also says that the impeachment of a president shall be based on treason, high crimes and misdemeanors. It doesn't say it's a political exercise," the congressman added.

Now, CNN reports, “there is a serious effort underway to find a candidate to mount a primary challenge against Buck in his solidly red district in eastern Colorado, three GOP sources told CNN – the latest sign of tension as the House GOP grapples with internal divisions over everything from its agenda to former President Donald Trump.”

READ MORE:Trump's bonkers plan to impeach Joe Biden

Per CNN:

Allies close to Buck say he isn’t afraid of a primary challenge, noting he easily beat back a GOP opponent in 2022, after facing blowback from the MAGA wing for his vocal support for former GOP Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming and his decision to certify the 2020 election results.

But privately, a half a dozen sources said there is growing frustration – including among the leadership ranks – with Buck, who has voted against the House GOP’s signature parental rights bill, their annual defense policy bill and the bipartisan debt ceiling deal. Buck also was among a group of Republicans who tanked a procedural vote on a gas stove bill in protest over spending levels and has openly suggested on CNN that McCarthy is just using impeachment as a “distraction” from the other issues he is facing.

One Republican lawmaker told CNN there’s been “grumbling” inside the party about Buck’s public comments against impeachment.

“I often side with Buck, but not on this one,” the member told CNN.

“ We call him buckle,” another Republican congressman said.

READ MORE: 'Rumor and innuendo': Vulnerable House Republicans threaten McCarthy’s path to Biden impeachment

A Republican source “familiar” with internal GOP discussions had an even sharper take on Buck’s position within the party, telling CNN that he “totally abandoned all principles to try and make a name for himself.”

“Everyone on Capitol Hill knows that Ken Buck has given up on his work with the Freedom Caucus, the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Judiciary Committee so that he can try-out for jobs with TV networks or the Biden administration,” that Republican said.

Read the full report at CNN.