Collins statement on potential for Nadler to allow surprise witness at Mueller hearing

WASHINGTON — Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, released the following statement in response to the possibility that Aaron Zebley, counsel for Robert Mueller, could testify as a witness alongside the former special counsel at Wednesday’s hearing. “Less than 24 hours before Robert Mueller arrives, the chairman is again allowing the committee’s business to devolve into chaos. If true, the chairman’s unprecedented decision to allow a witness’s counsel to both advise him privately and simultaneously testify alongside him shows the lengths Democrats will go to protect a one-sided narrative from a thorough examination by committee Republicans. I called on the chairman to hold a hearing with the special counsel nearly four months ago, and a last minute addition to the witness list would now jeopardize whether tomorrow's hearing complies with the rules of the House. "This apparent stunt is unsurprising in light of the Democrats’ repeated attempts to circumvent, misrepresent and flout the rules and procedures governing this committee’s business. If Democrats believe it is the special counsel’s responsibility to testify to his report, they have no ground for outsourcing that duty at the expense of our committee’s integrity.”