NEW: Trump had advance knowledge and supported a protest by Republicans who told him they planned to

[demmiblue]

NEW: Trump had advance knowledge and supported a protest by Republicans who told him they planned to barge into a secure hearing room on Capitol Hill where Democrats are holding impeachment testimonies, according to four people familiar with the matter.

Link to tweet

Trump Backed GOP Plan to Protest Inquiry (1:37 p.m.)

Trump had advance knowledge and supported a protest by Republicans who told him they planned to barge into a secure hearing room on Capitol Hill where Democrats are holding impeachment testimonies, according to four people familiar with the matter.

Trump on Tuesday met with about 30 House Republicans at the White House to talk about the situation in Syria and the impeachment inquiry. During a nearly two-hour meeting, which focused mostly on the impeachment inquiry, lawmakers shared their plans to storm into the secure room, the people said. Trump supported the action, saying he wanted the transcripts released because they will exonerate him, the people said.

About two dozen GOP House members occupied the secure hearing room early Wednesday, delaying a scheduled deposition.

[Thomas Hurt]

1. Must keep Commander Bedbug informed...

[Claritie Pixie]

2. It was probably his idea.

[Corgigal]

15. Of course.

Mr. Reality star, made for tv moment.

Other adults performing for Trump is lame. Get some self esteem congress persons.

[2naSalit]

3. Names will be taken and

I hope that someone puts up billboards in their districts pointing out how they endangered national security.

[madaboutharry]

4. Trump has officially become a despot.

And all of those congresspeople, they possess the same personalities and needs for authoritarianism as the people who joined the Nazi party during WWII.

This stunt is Obstruction of Justice and should be added to the Articles of Impeachment.

[dalton99a]

16. +1

[Arazi]

5. Cooper's testimony must be devastating for the Rs to take this step

[struggle4progress]

6. Oooh! "President conspires to disrupt Congress!" What's next?

"President conspires to disrupt Courts"?

[sinkingfeeling]

9. Executive Order to disband Congress and Democratic Party.

[moondust]

7. Arguably mild domestic terrorism.

OED: terrorism
n noun the unofficial or unauthorized use of violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political aims.

I don't know how much, if any, violence they may have used to force their way in, but it is certainly an unauthorized attempt to use intimidation in the pursuit of political aims. In addition to the basic security concerns and penalties.

If they want to stage a protest they can always do it legally out in front of the Capitol or someplace.

[sinkingfeeling]

8. They can all go down with him. I would love to bring back

tarring and feathering, or at the very least, running them out of town on a rail.

[Botany]

10. Impossible Matt Gaetz just said Trump didn't know about the protest

[MattBaggins]

11. Is this finally the point we retire Godwin rule

This is reichstag and brownshirt rolled up into one

[Mr. Ected]

12. This was the act of grown men acting like children

And I still can't conceive of what their "cause" may have been.

Neither can they. But it'll make the FOXycontins chortle with glee to know their kids effed with the libs today.

[Garrett78]

13. "saying he wanted the transcripts released because they will exonerate him"

What transcripts? Transcripts of the damning depositions?

[UniteFightBack]

14. He also had advance knowledge and planned this whole Syria thing with Putin. The truth WILL COME

OUT.

[Blue_true]

17. It is all a plan to silence witnesses.

If people feel threatened, maybe they won't show up.

Maybe there need to be Capitol Police at the entrance to the secure area ensuring that only people that have a reason to go in there get let in. Don't arrest them unless they start throwing punches at officers or reporters.

The stuff they are doing is classic facist playbook stuff.