Judiciary Republican: It would be to Trump’s advantage to have attorneys at impeachment hearing

Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.) said Sunday that it would be to President Trump’s advantage to have attorneys present at this week’s House Judiciary Committee impeachment hearing.

“That is his right, but I can also understand how he is upset at the illegitimate process that we saw unfold in the Intelligence Committee,” McClintock, who sits on the Judiciary panel, said on ABC’s “This Week.” 

GOP Rep. Tom McClintock says “it would be to the president’s advantage to have his attorneys” at the December 4 impeachment hearing.

“I can also understand how he is upset at the illegitimate process that we saw unfold in the Intelligence Committee.” https://t.co/rjeu82rI21 pic.twitter.com/mInkZDDVO1

— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) December 1, 2019

{mosads}The California Republican also said he thinks having former National Security Adviser John Bolton and acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney testify could work in the president’s favor, but he understands why the president and the White House are ordering them not to appear.

“Of course, he has to weigh that against the enormous, catastrophic damage that would do to the doctrine of executive privilege,” he said.

The White House has told previous and current officials that they cannot testify due to executive privilege, but a federal judge ruled former White House counsel Don McGahn had to testify under subpoena. The Department of Justice plans to appeal the decision. 

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) extended an invitation to the president to participate in the hearing. The White House has not yet responded.

The Intelligence Committee is expected to release a report by Tuesday evening based on its impeachment investigation, which was sparked by a whistleblower complaint that Trump asked the Ukrainian president to investigate political opponent Joe Biden.