Jordan assigned to Intel Committee ahead of Trump impeachment hearings

Jordan, who has been a staunch defender of the president, in his current role, would not have been on the dais during open hearings next week to counterpunch. Republican leadership all week had been weighing the Jordan move, and considering adding Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., and Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., as well. But in order to position Jordan on the panel, Republican leadership is required to remove one of the current Republicans on the panel. Removing three, to also include Meadows and Zeldin, would be somewhat of a feat.

"Politically, there's no way for us to pull this off," a Republican source told Fox News.

The assignment comes just days before the first open hearings as part of the impeachment inquiry.

On Wednesday, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., announced that the first public hearings as part of the inquiry would be held next Wednesday and Friday, featuring current and former officials with knowledge of the Ukraine controversy.