Rep. David Cicilline David Nicola CicillineClark rolls out endorsements in assistant Speaker race Races heat up for House leadership posts The folly of Cicilline's 'Glass-Steagall for Tech' MORE (D-R.I.) said Monday that he was not serious about calling Fox News host Sean Hannity to testify about his knowledge of hush money payments made to women who allege they had affairs with President Trump Donald John TrumpOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Pelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Trump mocks Biden appearance, mask use ahead of first debate MORE.

"My point was if he has things to say, he ought to say it under oath before Congress rather than as a commentator on Fox News trying to defend the president," Cicilline said on CNN.

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Cicilline backed off a tweet in which he said he looked forward to Hannity's testimony based on the Fox News host's comments defending the president during an interview with Trump. Hannity claimed during the interview that Michael Cohen told him "at least a dozen times" that Trump was unaware of the hush money payments, emphasizing that Cohen allegedly made decisions about the payments independent of Trump. Cicilline previously said Hannity was "volunteering himself as a witness."

Cicilline argued that a tape recording of Cohen and Trump discussing the payments disputed Hannity's account.

Cohen has represented Trump and Hannity, but the latter recently denied that Cohen was ever his lawyer.

Cohen testified last week that Trump was aware of and engaged in a scheme to pay women during the 2016 campaign to keep quiet about alleged affairs with the president.

Cicilline is a member of the House Judiciary Committee, which on Monday issued the first round of document requests as part of a sweeping investigation into Trump's campaign, business and administration.

The congressman said on CNN that he expects there will be additional names and document requests beyond the 81 people and entities identified on Monday.