House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler Jerrold (Jerry) Lewis NadlerDemocrats shoot down talk of expanding Supreme Court Schumer: 'Nothing is off the table' if GOP moves forward with Ginsburg replacement Top Democrats call for DOJ watchdog to probe Barr over possible 2020 election influence MORE (D-N.Y.) responded Tuesday to reports that the White House would try to prevent former White House counsel Don McGahn from testifying before Congress even though he was subpoenaed by the panel.

The Democratic chairman maintained in a statement released Tuesday evening that the White House does not have the authority to circumvent the subpoena and that an attempt to do so would be "obstruction."

"The moment for the White House to assert some privilege to prevent this testimony from being heard has long since passed," Nadler said. "I suspect that President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Romney: 'Unthinkable and unacceptable' to not commit to peaceful transition of power Two Louisville police officers shot amid Breonna Taylor grand jury protests MORE and his attorneys know this to be true as a matter of law-and that this evening's reports, if accurate, represent one more act of obstruction by an Administration desperate to prevent the public from talking about the President's behavior."

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Nadler asserted that the Judiciary Committee's subpoena "stands," adding, "I look forward to Mr. McGahn's testimony."

The Judiciary Committee issued a subpoena on Monday for McGahn to testify publicly about accounts detailed in special counsel Robert Mueller Robert (Bob) MuellerCNN's Toobin warns McCabe is in 'perilous condition' with emboldened Trump CNN anchor rips Trump over Stone while evoking Clinton-Lynch tarmac meeting The Hill's 12:30 Report: New Hampshire fallout MORE's report, which was released last week with certain redactions.

Nadler has described the former White House lawyer as a critical witness when it comes to instances in which Trump may have sought to obstruct Mueller's probe, something the Judiciary panel is examining as part of an investigation into obstruction of justice and abuse of power by the president and his inner circle.

The Democratic chairman issued his statement following a report in The Washington Post on Tuesday evening that stated the White House plans to fight the subpoena.

The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment.