Intelligence Democrat asks why the Trump administration is ‘afraid’ to let witnesses testify

Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Ala.), a member of the House Intelligence Committee, asked Sunday why the Trump administration has been ‘afraid’ to let witnesses testify in the impeachment inquiry. 

{mosads}”This administration is doing everything to make sure that witnesses don’t get a chance to come and be heard. And why are they hiding it?” she asked on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

“If they really have firm grounds to stand on, why are they so afraid to let witnesses come before us and tell their side?” Sewell added. 

Asked whether she thought the scheduled testimony of White House lawyer John Eisenberg would be blocked, the Democrat responded: “I don’t know.”

“I hope that he will testify,” Sewell said.  “This administration has done everything it can to hide the ball and it begs the question, ‘What are they trying to hide?'” 

WATCH: @RepTerriSewell would prefer the Trump impeachment inquiry is focused on national security issues and excludes the Mueller report. #MTP #IfItsSunday

“I would expect [deposition transcripts] to be released sometime in November … before the public hearings.” pic.twitter.com/UvIsYL3ND7

— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) November 3, 2019 

Eisenberg is slated to testify Monday. 

The Washington Post recently reported that White House official Alexander Vindman testified that Eisenberg was behind the decision to move a call between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to a classified server after Vindman had raised concerns about it. 

Politico reported last week Vindman testified Eisenberg told him not to tell anyone about the call because it was Vindman’s job to coordinate interagency procedures regarding it. 

The administration has attempted to block the testimony of several officials in the House probe into Trump’s dealings with Ukraine.