Trump’s Attempt to Hire Trey Gowdy Hits a Bump in the Road

Trey Gowdy will not be joining President Donald Trump’s legal team – not yet, at least.

According to multiple reports last week, Gowdy, 55, had been brought in to serve as outside counsel to Trump amid a House impeachment inquiry into the president.

“I am pleased to announce that former Congressman Trey Gowdy is joining our team as counsel to the president,” Trump attorney Jay Sekulow said last week.

MORE: Fox News Has ‘Terminated’ Trey Gowdy

Fox News even announced it had cut ties with the former South Carolina congressman and sometime contributor to the network , a decision linked to his presumed new duties with the administration.

However, Fox News confirmed on Monday that the seemingly done deal had unraveled.

A source “familiar with the situation” told the outlet that a statute governing post-Congressional activities had sparked concern.

Gowdy sought outside legal guidance in the days following a meeting with Trump centered around his joining the president’s legal team, according to the source.

The source said Gowdy decided to “err on the side of caution” and told Trump’s team he would not be free to join them until Jan. 4. Gowdy is still expected to join the president’s legal team, with the caveat that “things could change,” according to Fox News.

According to the rules, former members of Congress cannot communicate with or appear before colleagues for a year after leaving office.

The regulations are aimed at prohibiting lobbying immediately after members leave Congress.

MORE: Trey Gowdy Responds to Alyssa Milano’s Trump Criticism: ‘Speaking of Treason…’

However, Fox News’ source emphasized that the decision had been made purely in regard to the prohibition on influencing lawmakers and had nothing to do with ““lobbying work.”

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