Skip to content
Republican members of Congress call for access to depositions related to the House's impeachment inquiry at a news conference on Wednesday. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)
Republican members of Congress call for access to depositions related to the House's impeachment inquiry at a news conference on Wednesday. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)

Several House Republicans, who gathered outside a secure room in the basement of the Capitol Visitor’s Center Wednesday made a public attempt to force themselves into a secure area of the House they had been barred from entering.

The area, known as the Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF), is where Republican and Democratic Members of the Intelligence, Foreign Affairs and Oversight Committees heard testimony from Laura Cooper, the deputy assistant secretary of Defense for Russia, Ukraine, and Eurasia. Cooper is the latest witness to provide testimony to the panels leading the impeachment investigation into President Donald Trump.

Loading the player...

The SCIF is designed to be a secure space for members of congress to handle classified or sensitive materials.

After speaking briefly to members of the press, a group of 20-30 members, according to an estimate of one congressman involved, were able to gain access to the facility and interrupted the proceedings.

Most of the members who tried to gain access are not on any of the three committees charged with overseeing inquiry, hence why they were not allowed in. Members interrupted the proceedings being held in the SCIF when they entered, according to one member involved. 

Outside of the secure room Rep. Jim Jordan, who serves as the ranking member on the Oversight and Reform Committee, told reporters that the temperature between members had reached a boiling point.

He accused the Democrats leading the inquiry of getting “so petty,” that they “even took the chairs out,” referring to the benches designated for staff members.

[Republicans breeze past security protocols, occupy secure impeachment area]

Recent Stories

Kim launches primary challenge after Menendez refuses to quit

Four spending bills readied for House floor amid stopgap uncertainty

Menendez rejects New Jersey Democrats’ calls to resign after indictment

Photos of the week ending September 22, 2023

Dressing down — Congressional Hits and Misses

Menendez indictment comes with Democrats playing 2024 defense