WASHINGTON — A Democratic lawmaker is backing down, for now, from a renegade bid to impeach President Donald Trump after colleagues in his own party criticized the effort and refused to support it.

Rep. Shri Thanedar of Michigan isn’t abandoning his resolution to impeach Trump, saying that, as an immigrant, he wants to do all he can to protect America’s Constitution and its institutions. But with his own party leaders opposed, Thanedar late Wednesday edged back from forcing a vote that was certain to fail.

“Instead, I will add to my articles of impeachment and continue to rally the support of both Democrats and Republicans to defend the Constitution with me,” Thanedar said on social media. He said other offenses could be added to the resolution, including Trump’s plan to accept a free Air Force One replacement from Qatar.

“I will continue to pursue all avenues to put this President on notice and hold him accountable for his many impeachable crimes,” Thanedar said.

It’s the third time Trump has faced impeachment efforts after being twice impeached during his first term as president — first in 2019 on charges related to withholding military aid to Ukraine as it confronted Russia and later on a charge of inciting insurrection over the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol by a mob of his supporters. Trump was acquitted both times by the Senate.

Thanedar’s reversal followed multiple conversations with his fellow House Democrats in the halls of Congress and private talks with senior party leaders who urged him to reconsider.

Thanedar is not the only Democrat who has signaled support for impeachment efforts against Trump. But his decision to go it almost alone comes as he faces his own political challenges at home, with several primary opponents looking to unseat him in his Detroit-area congressional district.

House Democratic leaders called his resolution a poorly timed distraction as they work to generate opposition to the Republican tax cut bill.

“Right now, our focus is on health care being stripped away from the American people,” said Rep. Pete Aguilar of California, chair of the House Democratic Caucus.