Adam Schiff said Yates planned to testify on phone conversations between the Russian ambassador and Flynn. | AP Photo Schiff: Yates would have testified on Flynn ‘cover-up’

Rep. Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, says a hearing set for Tuesday with former acting Attorney General Sally Yates — which was canceled by Republicans — would have featured explosive testimony on Michael Flynn’s efforts to "cover up" his conversations with Russia’s ambassador.

The intelligence panel was scheduled to hold a public hearing with members of the Obama administration, including Yates, but Republicans nixed the session last week after the Trump administration raised concerns about Yates' possible testimony.


Schiff said Yates planned to testify on phone conversations between the Russian ambassador and Flynn, who was fired as national security adviser last month after it became clear he misled his colleagues about the nature of those conversations.

“Today's hearing would also have provided the opportunity for former Acting Attorney General Sally Yates to testify about the events leading up to former National Security Advisor Flynn's firing, including his attempts to cover up his secret conversations with the Russian Ambassador,” Schiff said in a statement.

“We would urge that the open hearing be rescheduled without further delay,” Schiff continued, “and that Ms. Yates be permitted to testify freely and openly so that the public may understand, among other matters, when the president was informed that his national security advisor had misled the vice president and through him, the country, and why the president waited as long as he did to fire Mr. Flynn.”

The flare-up over the canceled hearing is the latest clash between Schiff and the panel’s Republican chairman, Rep. Devin Nunes of California.

Schiff, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California and other top Democrats on Monday called for Nunes to recuse himself from the Intelligence Committee’s investigation into Russia’s meddling in the presidential election.

As part of the investigation, the panel is looking into allegations of collusion between Russia and President Donald Trump's campaign — and Democrats say Nunes is too close to the White House to lead such a probe.

Nunes on Tuesday rebuffed questions from reporters about recusing himself.

“The Russian investigation will continue,” he said. “Thanks for asking.”

A spokesman for Nunes, Jack Langer, said the Intelligence panel still wants to speak to Yates, despite canceling Tuesday's hearing.

The Washington Post reported Tuesday that the Trump administration sought to block Yates from testifying before the intelligence panel, which was also set to hear from former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and former CIA Director John Brennan.

The Justice Department notified Yates that some of her possible testimony would be barred by presidential communications privilege. After Yates’ lawyer made clear she still wanted to testify, the hearing was canceled, according to the Post.

In a statement, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer called the Post story “entirely false.”

“The White House has taken no action to prevent Sally Yates from testifying and the Department of Justice specifically told her that it would not stop her and to suggest otherwise is completely irresponsible," the White House said.

Yates was fired by Trump in January after refusing to defend his first travel ban executive order in court.