Corey Lewandowski promotes potential Senate run during impeachment hearing

WASHINGTON — During a chaotic public hearing with the House Judiciary Committee, former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski promoted a new website to advance his potential run for Senate.

Within minutes of a recess he requested in the middle of the hearing, a tweet appeared on his account, saying, “New website just launched to help a potential senate run. Sign up now!”

The website is a picture President Trump and Lewandoswki, and features a quote from Trump, saying, “I think Corey would be fantastic.”

The House Judiciary Committee subpoenaed the combative campaign operative to describe what special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation concluded were attempts to thwart the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. Investigators said Trump asked Lewandowski to pass on an order to limit the scope of the Russia investigation to prevent meddling in elections, but he never followed through.

Lewandoswki has been considering a challenge to incumbent Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, and previously told USA TODAY in an interview, "I'm going to get a lot of support if I run."

But, if Lewandowski does officially run, he would first face a primary among Republicans who have feuded with him for years.

Though Trump fired Lewandowski in 2016 after a number of advisers — including his children — raised questions his aggressive style, the two have remained friendly in the years since.

During a recent rally in Manchester, Trump told a cheering crowd that Lewandowski "loves your state" and "I think he'd be tough to beat" in a Senate race.

A New Hampshire-based PAC named "Stand With Corey" registered with the FEC earlier Tuesday.

President Donald Trump tweeted at the beginning of the hearing “Such a beautiful Opening Statement by Corey Lewandowski! Thank you Corey!” after Lewandowski read remarks prepared for the hearing that said it was “very unfair” that committee Democrats unilaterally changed the rules a week ago to make the hearing part of an impeachment proceeding.

Contributing: Bart Jansen, David Jackson, and John Fritze

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lewandowski promoted potential Senate run during impeachment hearing