or "I wrote about that in my book..." or "in my new book..." Okay, dude, so we know what YOU'RE on there for: to try to sell books.
I think he's still intimidated by trump and won't risk pissing him off.
I also think he's afraid to testify before the committee, because of what they might ask him. And maybe, just maybe, he has a sense of how bad it looks when you keep taking the fifth or repeatedly decline to answer at these hearings. Any hearing featuring him would certainly be televised. He's too busy reminding everybody of his relationship with Jesus and the Almighty and probably thinks that's the ultimate - uh - "trump card" to play. The strong but (he hopes) subtle message I suspect he's trying to telegraph is that "God is on MY side."
When they're all dolled up in imaginary priest robes and rubbing your face in their religious beliefs, I've gotta confess, it's suspicious and off-putting as - uh - hell! It's like he's doing everything he possibly can - to negate the fact that this is a SECULAR nation, NOT some religionist dictatorship. Seems to me you have to go to Iran or someplace similar to get that kind of governmental construct.
Besides, playing coy and demurring and avoiding the question and refusing to answer like he's doing - just screams "what's he trying to hide???"