Republicans, encouraged by President Donald Trump to get tougher in fighting the Democrats’ attempts to impeach him, have disrupted the US House of Representatives impeachment inquiry and delayed a Pentagon official from testifying.
The Republicans stormed into a hearing room where Pentagon official Laura Cooper, who oversees Ukraine and Russia matters, was due to testify behind closed doors, politicians and aides said.
The stand-off delayed a deposition with Ms Cooper until mid-afternoon on Wednesday (local time).
The impeachment inquiry focuses on Mr Trump’s request for Ukraine to investigate a domestic rival — Democrat Joe Biden — for his personal political benefit.
In a dramatic confrontation during an escalating probe that threatens Mr Trump’s presidency even as he seeks re-election next year, Capitol police were called in to clear the room and bring order, a Republican congressional aide said.
A witness inside the room said the Republicans brought mobile phones into the high-security facility where electronic devices were forbidden.