Rep. Mark Meadows darted from Capitol Hill to the White House as Robert Mueller testified before two House committees about his investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.

Meadows, a Republican from North Carolina who is a staunch defender of President Trump, was seated directly behind Mueller in the audience as he answered questions from the House Judiciary Committee.

After the first hearing ended, Meadows spoke with reporters in the hallway of Rayburn House Office Building. He argued that for Democrats, Mueller's testimony "did not advance their cause for impeachment." He also said had not spoken with Trump at that point.

But as the House Intelligence Committee began their session to grill Mueller in the afternoon, Meadows made the trip up Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House. He was spotted there by CNN cameras. Politico reported House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy also was at the White House.

Trump was likely there as he has no public events on his schedule until 4 p.m.

Both Trump and Meadows criticized Democrats and the former special counsel in a series of tweets as Mueller testified.