Former Michigan Congressman Justin Amash has been named to the advisory board of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, a nonprofit organization dedicated to defending free speech and civil liberties.
Amash announced his appointment on social media Thursday, stating, “Excited to join [The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression]’s Advisory Council to support FIRE’s mission “to defend and sustain the individual rights of all Americans to free speech and free thought—the most essential qualities of liberty.”
The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression also issued a press release highlighting Amash’s “expertise in constitutional law and federal policymaking” and describing him as an “outspoken advocate for the individual freedoms protected under the Constitution, especially free speech.”
Founded in 1998 as the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, the organization initially focused on defending free speech, academic freedom, and due process on college campuses. It later expanded its mission to advocate more broadly for First Amendment rights, changing its name to the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. According to its mission, the foundation “defends and promotes the value of free speech for all Americans in our courtrooms, on our campuses, and in our culture.”
Amash represented Michigan’s third congressional district for five terms after first winning election in 2010. During his final term, he left the Republican Party to become an independent before later joining the Libertarian Party, making him its first and only sitting member of Congress to date. After switching parties, Amash briefly explored a run for the Libertarian presidential nomination in 2020 but ultimately decided against pursuing the candidacy. He was later appointed to the Libertarian National Committee’s Ballot Access Advisory Committee.
Earlier this month, Amash also briefly considered running for chair of the Libertarian National Committee following Angela McArdle’s resignation but ultimately declined to enter the race.
I was gonna say, because if they don’t have both how can the two fight each other, but Unimportant also makes a good point.
“By the way, why does the libertarian party need both a ballot access committee and a ballot access advisory committee?”
Maybe they’re trying to demonstrate they can be redundant enough to run the government.
They can and should do better.
Amash can’t decide which party, if any, he belongs to. He can’t decide whether he wants to be in politics. He can’t hang on to a seat in congress as an incumbent. He can’t understand the plain language of the authors about their intent regarding birthright citizenship. He can’t resist the lure to side with lawfare, ridiculous impeachments, and other deep state dirty tricks. After floating a presidential campaign, he couldn’t attract enough support to even run for the nomination. The same held true for his aborted run for libertarian national committee chair just a few short months after another failed Republican run for office.
By the way, why does the libertarian party need both a ballot access committee and a ballot access advisory committee?
Congratulations to the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression and Justin Amash on their efforts to preserve the freedom of speech in the USA.
“The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression also issued a press release highlighting Amash’s ‘expertise in constitutional law and federal policymaking’ and describing him as an ‘outspoken advocate for the individual freedoms protected under the Constitution, especially free speech.'”
U+1F923
Some intern didn’t do their homework. If this is how sloppy FIRE is nowadays, that does not bode well of their legal counsel. With Amash on their advisory council, they will be ACLU 2.0 in no time.