Freedom caucus in Trump: Lay off Sanford attacks

Conservative House Freedom caucus members called Monday President TrumpDonald John TrumpJimmy Fallon replies to Trump: I'm going to donate to pro-immigrant nonprofit on his behalf South Carolina Candidate GOP should recover completely after a car accident Official: US to present North Korea with a schedule, "specific request" PLUS abandon his ongoing attacks against Rep. Mark SanfordMarshall (Mark) Clement SanfordSouth Carolina GOP candidate should make a full recovery after a car accident Flake: Trump has "unfortunately" redefined the Republican Party GOP candidate who beat Sanford badly injured in a car crash MORE as a result of the Sanford primary loss earlier this month.

Trump has mocked the South Carolina Republican in his homeland at a campaign rally for Governor Henry McMaster (R), saying he "never liked" [Sanford] too much."

"The Tallahassee [sic] Trail, must be a beautiful place, "said Trump, digging Sanford's infamous affair during his tenure as governor. Unfortunately for him, he did not go there. "

Sanford, a vocal critic of Trump, had initially explained a prolonged absence of his time as governor saying that he was hiking on the Appalachian Trail. In fact, he was in Argentina with a woman who was not his wife at the time.

During a closed-door meeting of the Freedom Caucus Monday night, a number of powerful group legislators categorically called on members to stand up to defend Sanford and condemn the president's repeated attacks on one of the their.

President of the Caucus Mark MeadowsMark Randall MeadowsDOJ delivers documents from Russia to Congress According to MP GOP, evidence may have been tampered with in the Flynn case The House postpones the vote on the compromise bill of immigration (R-N.C.) Said the group is being held in Sanford, which lost its primary re-election against state legislator Katie Arrington just hours after the president tweeted his approval of Arrington.

"Everyone here is very much in favor of Mark Sanford, and I think that's one of the things that they think is that the president is getting bad political advice," he said.

The former governor has also come to his own defense.

"The background is that, you know, the president is in South Carolina 100 miles from the district talking about the race for governor and for some reason decided to replay me," Sanford said as he left the meeting. "So, it's the fourth time, that's why Justin raised that."

Michigan Rep. Justin AmashJustin AmashGOP's representative refutes Trump's account of Sanford's attacks: "People were disgusted" Trump asserts that Sanford's remarks booed by legislators were well received GOP congressman blows attack on Trump on Sanford as "classless" was among GOP lawmakers who came to Sanford's defense following Trump's tweet, attacked on June 16th.

.@ MarkSanfordHis job is to support and defend the Constitution. He is one of the most principled, consistent and conservative members of Congress I have ever known. And unlike you, Mark has shown humility in his role and a desire to be a better man than the day before. https://t.co/zNYKb5WKmH

– Justin Amash (@justinamash) June 12, 2018

Trump had also said that he had been applauded and acclaimed when he had called Sanford "nasty" at a GOP meeting, an assertion that many lawmakers present described as "downright wrong".

The Freedom Caucus issued a statement earlier on Monday applauding Sanford's service.

"Mark Sanford has been a strong, independent voice that fights for the people of South Carolina's first district, we continue to support him, he is a valued member of the House Freedom Caucus, and it's our honor to serve with him". "His thoughtful review of the legislation and his willingness to put constitutional principles ahead of the party line is commendable and will be missed."