As of Oct. 14, 2019, Trey Gowdy will not be eligible to aid President Donald Trump’s legal team regarding the impending impeachment proceedings until Jan. 4, 2020.
Previously, former Congressman Gowdy offered his aid and was welcomed by Trump’s attorney Jay Sekulow publicly onto the team as counsel to the president.
We have already seen ramifications of this for Gowdy, as Fox News terminated his employment as a contributor over the situation.
Gowdy quickly stepping down from this position results from a post-Congress restriction that exists to decrease the effect of the political “revolving door”: when congressional members end their time as congressmen and immediately use their connections to become lobbyists. In doing this, the congressmen exploit the power that was once granted to them by their constituency. This specific phenomenon is the focus of these restrictions, but these restrictions also extend to former members of Congress influencing lawmakers by any means.
Electing to remain cautious and not attempt to exploit the law, Gowdy told Trump’s legal team that he will not be able to join the team until Jan. 4, which is the earliest date he can join as he retired from Congress on Jan. 3 to return to his law firm. 
In the past, Gowdy has been critical of attempts by members of congress to move forward in the impeachment process – especially in the House by members of the Democratic party.