In the US, we have rights and due process. Congress requested their presence, but it can't just force someone to show up for political theater out of nowhere. T

In the US, we have rights and due process. Congress requested their presence, but it can't just force someone to show up for political theater out of nowhere. There's a process for subpoenas, and we have many laws protecting people (fifth amendment, sixth amendment, etc). You can't be held in contempt of Congress for simply declining to show up to a hearing you were requested to attend. And, if they planned for a lawyer to come and at the last minute things changed, lack of preparedness is certainly a reason to excuse yourself.