Rep. Mark Meadows Mark Randall MeadowsAmerican Airlines, unions call for six-month extension of government aid McEnany tells CNN reporter to come work at the White House for details on health care plan Trump undercuts GOP, calls for bigger COVID-19 relief package MORE (R-N.C.) said Thursday that he believes Rep. Matt Gaetz Matthew (Matt) GaetzLara Trump campaigns with far-right activist candidate Laura Loomer in Florida House to vote on removing cannabis from list of controlled substances The Hill's 12:30 Report: Sights and sounds from GOP convention night 1 MORE (R-Fla.) should be among the GOP lawmakers given a role on President Trump Donald John TrumpBarr criticizes DOJ in speech declaring all agency power 'is invested in the attorney general' Military leaders asked about using heat ray on protesters outside White House: report Powell warns failure to reach COVID-19 deal could 'scar and damage' economy MORE's impeachment defense team.

Meadows, appearing on "War Room: Impeachment," told former White House chief strategist Stephen Bannon that it was "imperative" the president's defense team include individuals with an intimate knowledge of the witness testimony and other evidence from the House impeachment process.

"If I had to pick a team, I would say you get in Jim Jordan James (Jim) Daniel JordanRepublicans call for Judiciary hearing into unrest in cities run by Democrats Trump, GOP seek to rebut Democratic narrative on night one Jim Jordan praises Trump for calling his family after nephew's death MORE [R-Ohio]. You get in a Matt Gaetz. You put your 'A Team' — a John Ratcliffe John Lee RatcliffeOvernight Defense: House to vote on military justice bill spurred by Vanessa Guillén death | Biden courts veterans after Trump's military controversies Intelligence chief says Congress will get some in-person election security briefings DOJ launches probe into Bolton book for possible classified information disclosures MORE [R-Texas]," Meadows said.

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Meadows, who is not seeking reelection, also did not rule out the possibility of playing some role himself in Trump's defense strategy. But he was particularly supportive of Gaetz, a firebrand Republican and Trump defender who produced a number of viral moments in the impeachment proceedings.

"He had one of the greatest performances in the Judiciary, and I say performances because he brought the truth," Meadows said.

"Listen, everybody wants to have their day in the sunshine," Meadows continued. "This is not a time to play politics, this is a time to put your best team on there and I think Matt Gaetz would be one of them."

The House voted last month to impeach Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. No Republicans voted for either article.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi Nancy PelosiPowell warns failure to reach COVID-19 deal could 'scar and damage' economy Overnight Defense: House to vote on military justice bill spurred by Vanessa Guillén death | Biden courts veterans after Trump's military controversies Intelligence chief says Congress will get some in-person election security briefings MORE (D-Calif.) has yet to send the articles over to the Senate amid negotiations over the terms of a Senate trial. Democrats have said they'd like Trump administration officials to testify, but Republicans have indicated they prefer a shorter trial that ends in Trump's acquittal.

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The White House has not made any formal announcements about its legal team for the trial, though White House counsel Pat Cipollone is expected to play a leading role. Trump met last month with Ratcliffe, Jordan and other firebrand lawmakers believed to be under consideration for a part on his defense team.

Gaetz, who sits on the House Judiciary Committee, caused a ruckus in October when he led other Republicans into a closed-door deposition in a secure room at the Capitol to protest a perceived lack of transparency in the impeachment process.

The Florida congressman also received attention for his intense questioning of a Democratic witness on a panel of law professors weighing in on impeachable conduct. He brought up Hunter Biden's substance abuse issues in a later hearing.