House Intelligence Committee Chair Adam Schiff (D-CA) appeared on CNN’s “State of the Union” with Jake Tapper hoping to stump for impeachment with the American people.

But his appearance is not going over well.

First, he told a huge whopper, claiming that the Democrats were just trying to do their “constitutional duty” and that support for impeachment had “grown fairly dramatically.” As we reported, that’s an easily disprovable lie, support has actually dropped, especially after the public portion during which people were able to see how empty and political the whole effort was.

But now he appears to be suggesting that he might not testify if called by the House Judiciary Committee or the Senate, if it gets to the Senate and Republicans have control over the proceedings.

.@RepAdamSchiff indicates he wouldn’t testify if Republicans subpoena him: "There is nothing to testify about … if they go down this road, it shows a fundamental lack of seriousness. A willingness to try to turn this into a circus." pic.twitter.com/SiLcUf6a8P

— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) November 24, 2019

Tapper outlined the witnesses likely to be called including Hunter Biden, Joe Biden and the whistleblower. Then he indicated that Schiff himself was likely to be called as well. Tapper noted that David Kendall, Bill Clinton, was able to call and examine independent counsel Ken Starr.

Schiff tried to distinguish himself from Starr, claiming he was more like Rep. Henry Hyde (R-IL) who chaired the House Judiciary Committee, merely a member of Congress who were pursuing those responsibilities.

He also claimed that there is nothing for him to testify about, that he’s not a “fact witness.”

He’s wrong on all counts.

In the case of Starr and the Clinton impeachment, the impeachment inquiry wasn’t even opened until charges were found in the Starr report and the Congress pursued the charges based on the report. So naturally, Clinton’s attorney had the right to cross-examine Starr and his report.

In this case, because Democrats don’t even have any charges to start with and no independent counsel finding of charges like that of Starr, Schiff is the de facto “prosecutor” who has been claiming that the House proceeding is the “investigation.”

The problem with that is that contrary to Schiff’s claims, he also is a potential fact witness. He’s not just a member of Congress. Because the whistleblower had contact with him and/or his staff prior to the whistleblower filing his complaint and Schiff lied about those contacts, he inserted himself into the matter.

How hypocritical is it of him to suggest he might not testify after attacking Trump officials who might not want to get sucked into witch hunt impeachment circus? He’s the one behind the circus.

Put up or shut up.