Former special counsel Robert Mueller has requested his longtime aide Aaron Zebley be sworn in as a witness during Wednesday's hearings with both the House Judiciary Committee and the Intelligence Committee about the probe into Russian meddling into the 2016 presidential elections, congressional officials told ABC News on Tuesday.
A committee spokesman told The New York Times that Mueller is the only witness listed, as Democrats have not yet agreed to the request.
Rep. Doug Collins, R-Ga., the Ranking Member on the Judiciary Committee, called on Democrats to reject the request.
"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," he told the Times.
There are concerns Zebley's presence could disrupt plans by both Democrats and Republicans over how to make the best use of their limited time with Mueller, who is known for his very concise answers while under oath.
If allowed to appear before the committees, Zebley would be able to answer questions on the behalf of Mueller if the former special counsel asks him to do so.
The two panels had previously expected to speak with Zebley and another former member of the special counsel's staff, James Quarles, after the public hearings in private sessions, but the Justice Department objected and those meetings were canceled.
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