Justin Amash: Nancy Pelosi 'making a mistake' by not initiating impeachment proceedings against Trump

Just days after announcing his official split from the Republican Party, Rep. Justin Amash (I-Mich.) condemned House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Sunday for not initiating impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump.

"From a principled, moral position, she's making a mistake," Amash said on CNN's "Meet the Press."

Amash announced in May — nearly two months after the release of the Mueller report — he had concluded that Trump "has engaged in impeachable conduct." On Sunday, Amash said there will be a "big problem" if Pelosi does not move forward with impeachment proceedings.

"From a strategic position, she's making a mistake. If she believes, as I do, that there's impeachable conduct in there, then she should say so. She should tell the American people, we're going to move forward with impeachment hearings and potentially articles of impeachment," Amash said.

"When she says things like, 'Oh, I think that we need to have the strongest case before we go forward,' what she's telling the American people is, she doesn't think there's a strong case. If she doesn't think that, then she shouldn't open her mouth in the first place and say she thinks there's impeachable conduct," the now-former Republican went on to say.

"I do believe there's a strong case. I believe she believes there's a strong case," he added. "And, if so, she should move forward and make sure that the American people understand what's going on, because people at home aren't reading the Mueller report. Most people don't have time to read a 448-page report. They expect their members of Congress to do the work for them. They want Speaker Pelosi to do the work. They want other members to do the work."

"And if she doesn't want to go forward, then we're going to have a big problem," Amash declared.

Amash also refused to rule out a presidential run next year. However, he told CNN host Jake Tapper that he is not seriously considering a run for the White House. Instead, Amash said he is focused on serving his constituents in Michigan.

Justin Amash on what his GOP colleagues say privatelywww.youtube.com