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A4 U.S. NEWS
Thursday 24 OcTOber 2019

Chaotic scene as Republicans disrupt impeachment deposition

By MICHAEL BALSAMO and called a Sensitive Com-
MARY CLARE JALONICK partmented Information
Associated Press Facility, or SCIF, which is a
WASHINGTON (AP) — Re- secure room where mem-
publicans briefly brought bers can hear classified in-
the Democrat-led im- formation.
peachment investigation Several lawmakers leaving
to a halt Wednesday when the facility said that some
around two dozen GOP of the Republicans brought
House members stormed their cellphones, even
into a closed-door deposi- though electronics are not
tion with a Defense Depart- allowed. All members of
ment official. Democrats Congress are familiar with
said the move compro- the protocol of the SCIF,
mised national security be- since they are often invit-
cause some of the Repub- ed to classified briefings,
licans brought electronic and there are several such
devices into a secure room. rooms around the Capitol.
The protest by Republican Several Republicans ap-
lawmakers captured na- peared to be tweeting
tional attention, drawing from the secure room.
the focus away from the North Carolina Rep. Mark
testimony of a top U.S. dip- Walker tweeted: "UPDATE:
lomat who told lawmakers House Republicans gather for a news conference after Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense We are in the SCIF and ev-
just a day earlier that he Laura Cooper arrived for a closed door meeting to testify as part of the House impeachment ery GOP Member is quietly
was told President Donald inquiry into President Donald Trump, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019, on Capitol Hill in Washington. listening."
Trump was withholding mili- Associated Press Rep. Bennie Thompson,
tary aid from Ukraine un- find out what's going on," subpoena, an official work- to release the transcripts D-Miss., who chairs the
less the country's president said Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, ing on the impeachment when it will not affect the House Homeland Security
pledged to investigate the top Republican on the inquiry said. She explained investigation. They also said Committee, alleged that
Democrats. House Oversight and Re- to lawmakers the process the Republicans — several Republicans "intentionally
The maneuver delayed form panel. That commit- of distributing military aid of whom do not sit on one brought their electronic
a deposition with Laura tee is one of three leading and was asked whether of the three committees — devices" into the secure
Cooper, a senior Defense the investigation, and its the appropriate steps were compromised security at area, violating congressio-
Department official who members are allowed into followed on Ukraine, ac- Wednesday's closed-door nal rules and the oath they
oversees Ukraine policy, the closed-door hearings. cording to a person familiar deposition. The interviews take to gain access to clas-
until midafternoon. The in- Lawmakers described a with the interview. are being held in what is sified information.q
terview began roughly five chaotic scene. Rep. Deb- Both the official working on
hours behind schedule, bie Wasserman Schultz, the impeachment inquiry
after a security check by D-Fla., said she had just and the person familiar
Capitol officials, and end- walked into the room when with the interview spoke on
ed after roughly four hours. the Republican lawmakers condition of anonymity to
As a series of diplomats blew past Capitol police discuss the closed-door tes-
have been interviewed in officers and Democratic timony.
the impeachment probe, staffers. The staff member "The president's allies in
many Republicans have who was checking identifi- Congress are trying to
been silent on the presi- cation at the entrance was make it even more difficult
dent's conduct. But they "basically overcome" by for these witnesses to co-
have been outspoken the Republicans, she said. operate," Adam Schiff, the
about their disdain for "Literally some of them were chairman of the House in-
Democrats and the im- just screaming about the telligence committee.
peachment process, say- president and what we're Democrats deny that Re-
ing it is unfair to them even doing to him and that we publicans are being treated
though they have been in have nothing and just all unfairly, noting they have
the room questioning wit- things that were supportive had equal time to ques-
nesses and hearing the tes- of the president," Wasser- tion witnesses and full ac-
timony. man Schultz said. cess to the meetings. Schiff
"The members have just Later when the deposition says closed-door hearings
had it, and they want to began, Cooper answered are necessary to prevent
be able to see and repre- questions from lawmakers witnesses from concealing
sent their constituents and and staffers in response to a the truth and has promised