The Republican antics caused a delay in testimony from Defense official Laura Cooper who oversees Ukraine policy.
Trump had advance knowledge and supported a protest by Republicans who told him they planned to barge into a secure hearing room on Capitol Hill where Democrats are holding impeachment testimonies, according to four people familiar with the matter.
Trump on Tuesday met with about 30 House Republicans at the White House to talk about the situation in Syria and the impeachment inquiry. During a nearly two-hour meeting, which focused mostly on the impeachment inquiry, lawmakers shared their plans to storm into the secure room, the people said. Trump supported the action, saying he wanted the transcripts released because they will exonerate him, the people said.
Matt Gaetz led about 25 House Republican lawmakers into the secure basement of the SCIF. Republicans blew past police officers to enter the room and began shouting once they got there, loudly denouncing the process and impeachment https://t.co/EwEaNKD8M2
— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) October 23, 2019
BREAKING — The Republicans who have stormed the SCIF have ordered pizza.
“They’re a bunch of brave freedom fighters having pizza in a secure conference room,” complained Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-NJ).https://t.co/hthVNifnAG
— Sam Stein (@samstein) October 23, 2019
Rep. @tedlieu: "You had a number of Republican members who were not on the committee's jurisdiction try to go on into this SCIF area… They also brought in their cell phones, which is a violation. They violated House rules by trying to crash committees which they don't sit on." pic.twitter.com/GYyRAT9vWF
— The Hill (@thehill) October 23, 2019
