GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz ejected from secret impeachment meeting
by Susan Ferrechio | October 14, 2019 11:32 AM
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/congress/gop-rep-matt-gaetz-ejected-from-secret-impeachment-meeting
https://archive.is/MlxAs

A Republican member of the House Judiciary Committee was ejected from a closed-door impeachment hearing.

Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida on Monday tried to enter a hearing in which lawmakers from three different committees are interviewing President Trump’s former top aide on Russia, Fiona Hill.

Gaetz said he believed he should be allowed to attend the hearing because impeachment inquiries traditionally are handled by the House Judiciary Committee and he serves on that panel.

But the House parliamentarian told Gaetz he is not allowed to attend the hearing because he does not sit on either the Intelligence, Foreign Affairs, or Oversight panels, which are the official committees conducting the impeachment inquiry.

"Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler claimed to have begun the impeachment inquiry weeks ago," Gaetz said on Twitter after leaving the hearing room. "Now, his own Judiciary members aren’t even allowed to participate in it. And yes - my constituents want me actively involved in stopping the #KangarooCourtCoup run by Shifty Schiff."

Republicans and Trump have criticized the impeachment inquiry for failing to follow precedent, which includes a House vote, referral to the Judiciary Committee, and bipartisan agreement on rules for the inquiry.