Former Rep. Trey Gowdy Monday said it's too late for him to replace Rudy Giuliani as President Donald Trump's attorney, particularly when it comes to representing him during impeachment proceedings.
"I will have needed to start a long time ago," Gowdy, now a contributor for Fox News, commented to network anchor Martha McCallum. "There are depositions to read and evidence to consider, witnesses to examine."
He added that Trump's attorneys, "two really good lawyers" Pat Cipollone and Jay Sekulow" have not been allowed to participate in the impeachment inquiry proceedings.
"I was an average lawyer, but I did it for a long time, and I need to participate to be able to effectively represent someone," said Gowdy. "You can't do it starting on January 1 going into a trial on January 4. You just can't do it."
Gowdy Monday also said he thinks the impeachment effort is not about removing Trump from office, but about shifting control of the Senate away from Republicans and to the Democrats.
"This is not about removing Donald Trump from office because they know they will not be successful," said Gowdy. "If they can win the Senate, even if they lose the White House in 2020, he is a neutered president. "I've always felt this is much more about the senate than it is removing someone from office because they will not get a conviction in the Senate trial."