Attorney General William Barr told reporters Monday that he thinks Democrats only asked special counsel Robert Mueller to testify in order to “create some kind of public spectacle” and that he would support Mueller if he decides to ignore the subpoena and not show up next week.

“I was disappointed to see him subpoenaed. I don’t think that serves any purpose, dragging Bob Mueller up, if he, in fact, is going to stick to the report,” Barr told reporters in South Carolina on Monday. “It seems to me the only reason for doing that is to create some kind of public spectacle. And if Bob decides that he doesn’t want to be subject to that, then Department of Justice would certainly back him.”