Schiff Told Gaetz to ‘Absent Yourself’ During Heated Committee Meeting That Rep. Crashed

(L-R) Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) stands next to House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) as he speaks to reporters following a closed-door hearing with the House Intelligence, Foreign Affairs and Oversight committees at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Nov. 4, 2019. Drew Angerer/Getty Images

House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) told Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) to “absent yourself” after Gaetz crashed a closed-door impeachment hearing in mid-October, a newly released transcript showed.

Schiff has been leading the impeachment despite the process traditionally being overseen by the House Judiciary Committee. The House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Oversight Committee have also been involved with the inquiry.