Trump impeachment: Republicans cause chaos as they storm inquiry into president

Republican politicians stormed into a secure meeting room during hearings on an impeachment probe into President Donald Trump and his dealings with Ukraine.

Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz and House Minority Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana led dozens of Republicans into a House Intelligence Committee hearing inside a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility, or SCIF, among many secure rooms throughout the Capitol that are limited only to members of those committees, which include both Democrats and Republicans, where classified information is shared and rank-and-file staff — as well as electronic devices — are prohibited.

Mr Gaetz told reporters outside the committee doors that "we're gonna go and see if we can get inside" as a flood of Republican officials opened the doors, bringing their mobile phones into the classified room and potentially putting the investigation in jeopardy.

Proceedings with Pentagon official Laura Cooper, who oversees US policy in Ukraine, are on hold, while a security sweep of the room is performed. California Congressman Adam Schiff, who chairs the committee, called the Sergeant-at-Arms to disperse the more than 30 Republicans who don't sit on the committee.

In a press conference, Republicans said they were protesting what they believe are secretive proceedings and demanded transcripts of witness testimony, despite the sensitivity of the flow of information that's intended to prevent compromising leaks.

Mr Trump was aware that the group had planned to crash the testimony that was part of an investigation into his own impeachment, according to Bloomberg, which reported that the president believed the release of those transcripts would exonerate him.

The protest comes a day after crucial testimony from Bill Taylor, acting ambassador to Ukraine, whose damning 14-page statement to Congress explicitly linked Mr Trump's request for information into former vice president and political rival Joe Biden was contingent on military aid to the country, contrary to Mr Trump's denial of the so-called "quid pro quo" arrangement captured on a July phone call with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Mr Trump and his supporters have been trying to undermine the legitimacy of impeachment hearings as Mr Trump has called for more protection from fellow Republicans.

Mr Trump called the probe a "lynching," and South Carolina Senator and Trump ally Lindsey Graham told Fox News that the hearings are a "closed-door, behind-the-scenes, lack-of-due process inquiry."

"We should dismiss it without a trial because it's illegitimate on its face, and if it's allowed to stand, there's no protection for future presidents," Mr Graham said.