U.S. Rep. Jason Crow said Tuesday that he supports opening an impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump, becoming the third member of Congress from Colorado to say so.

In a 400-word blog post explaining his position, the freshman Democrat from Aurora drew on his combat experience in Iraq. He recalled meeting a man in 2003 who sought help resolving a dispute with a neighbor, knowing he couldn’t trust his country’s crooked judges. Crow says he heard similar hopelessness about government while on the campaign trail in the United States.

“I didn’t run for office because I dislike Donald Trump. I ran because I love our country,” he wrote.

“It’s that same pride in our democracy and respect for our constitution that fuels my support for an impeachment inquiry,” the congressman added. “We must complete the work started by Special Counsel Robert Mueller. It’s a solemn responsibility of Congress that the framers of our constitution included to protect the rule-of-law.”

On Tuesday night, word of Crow’s decision reached about 60 activists with the progressive group Indivisible who had gathered in Aurora to watch a Democratic presidential debate. During a commercial break, it was announced that Crow backs an impeachment inquiry and a loud cheer followed, drawing glances from other diners at Real de Minas, a restaurant in the Denver suburb.

The question of impeachment has divided the Democratic Party. Its most liberal members — including Reps. Diana DeGette of Denver of Joe Neguse of Lafayette — have endorsed an impeachment inquiry.

Crow, however, had been more hesitant on impeachment. His congressional district, created in the early 1980s, was represented by Republicans until Crow defeated Mike Coffman last year. It’s seen as a potential swing district, though trending more Democratic, like most Denver suburbs.

On July 17, the House voted 332-95 to kill an attempt at impeachment. All Republicans voted against impeachment, but Democrats were divided, with 95 in favor of impeachment and 137 against. Among the Coloradans, DeGette and Neguse voted to move ahead with impeachment; Crow and Rep. Ed Perlmutter did not.

Crow said he decided an impeachment inquiry is appropriate after reading the Mueller report and hearing the former special counsel’s testimony to Congress last week. In light of Trump’s “repeated stonewalling of Congress,” he says American democracy now “faces substantial risks.”

“Trump and his administration have engaged in repeated abuses of power and disregarded our institutions, while flaunting Congress and the judiciary,” wrote Crow, who is a lawyer. “To this day the president prevents key witnesses from testifying before Congress, wrongly asserts executive privilege to dodge subpoenas, and attempts to skirt court rulings.”

Perlmutter said in a telephone town hall Tuesday night that the House is holding Trump accountable.

“I believe the conduct of President Trump is impeachable in a number of ways, however, the House investigatory process is critical and I don’t believe we have our best case ready yet,” he said. “There are two big circuit court cases that will open the door to Donald Trump’s tax returns and with Deutsche Bank and whether Russian money came into Trump’s companies in one fashion or another. We need to follow the money.”

Perlmutter also noted the unlikelihood of getting two-thirds support for impeachment in the Senate, where Republicans hold a majority.

The National Republican Congressional Committee called Crow’s post “painful to read” and said his comparison to lawlessness in Iraq was bizarre. The NRCC pointed to polls that show impeachment is unpopular with most Americans.

“Jason Crow is joining the impeachment bandwagon despite opposition from a clear majority of Americans,” added Colorado’s Republican National Committee spokesperson, Kyle Kohli. “Instead of pursuing baseless conspiracy theories with his socialist colleagues, Crow should get back to work on issues like the USMCA that actually matter to middle class families.”

Requesting an impeachment inquiry is not the same as calling for the president’s immediate removal from office. It would prompt impeachment hearings in the House Judiciary Committee — Crow is not a member, but Neguse is — and, perhaps, a vote by the full House.

In his blog post, Crow warned Democrats against being overeager. Democracy is fragile, he said.

“Let me be clear: impeachment must be the last course of action, not the first,” the congressman wrote. “We must be deliberate about the inquiry process and give the American people full confidence in the process and the ultimate decision.”