Democrats watching the first public impeachment hearing Wednesday laughed after Rep. Peter Welch Peter Francis WelchShakespeare Theatre Company goes virtual for 'Will on the Hill...or Won't They?' Vermont Rep. Peter Welch easily wins primary Vermont has a chance to show how bipartisanship can tackle systemic racism MORE (D-Vt.) invited President Trump Donald John TrumpFederal prosecutor speaks out, says Barr 'has brought shame' on Justice Dept. Former Pence aide: White House staffers discussed Trump refusing to leave office Progressive group buys domain name of Trump's No. 1 Supreme Court pick MORE to testify.

“I say to my colleague, I’d be glad to have the person who started it all come in and testify. President Trump is welcome to take a seat right there,” Welch said.

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His comment was in response to Rep. Jim Jordan James (Jim) Daniel JordanHouse panel pulls Powell into partisan battles over pandemic Sunday shows preview: Justice Ginsburg dies, sparking partisan battle over vacancy before election House passes resolution condemning anti-Asian discrimination relating to coronavirus MORE’s (R-Ohio) claim that House Democrats are keeping the “guy that started it all,” referring to the whistleblower, from testifying as part of the hearings.

Jim Jordan: ...we will never be able to question the person who started all of this



Rep. Welch: I'd be glad to have the person who started it all come in and testify. President Trump is welcome to take a seat right there. #ImpeachmentHearings pic.twitter.com/hkYbaArQ09 — Amee Vanderpool (@girlsreallyrule) November 13, 2019

“Now there is one witness, one witness that they won't bring in front of us. They won’t bring in front of the American people, and that’s the guy that started it all: the whistleblower,” Jordan said.

Republicans have requested the whistleblower’s testimony, but House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff Adam Bennett SchiffSchiff to subpoena top DHS official, alleges whistleblower deposition is being stonewalled Schiff claims DHS is blocking whistleblower's access to records before testimony GOP lawmakers distance themselves from Trump comments on transfer of power MORE (D-Calif.) has repeatedly said the whistleblower will not testify and he will not allow questions that could lead to the whistleblower's identity being revealed.