House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff Thursday rejected a call from committee Republicans for his resignation with a prepared statement in which he said the actions of President Donald Trump and members of his 2016 presidential campaign were "not OK."

At the beginning of a hearing on evidence of Russian interference in the election, Rep. Mike Conaway, R-Texas, opened the session by reading the Republicans' demand letter, signed by all nine GOP committee members.

The move came shortly after Trump demanded on Twitter for Schiff be forced out of Congress altogether.

"The special counsel's investigation did not find that the Trump campaign or anyone associated with conspired or coordinated with Russia," Conaway read, but "you continue to proclaim to the media there is significant evidence of collusion…we have no faith in your ability to discharge your duties."

Schiff responded, with a lengthy statement, that the Republicans "may think it's OK that the Russians offered dirt on a Democratic candidate for president as part of what was described as the Russian government's effort to help the Trump campaign," and that the president's son, Donald Jr., campaign chairman, and son-in-law Jared Kushner, agreed to a meeting.

"Their only disappointment after that meeting was that the dirt they received on Hillary Clinton wasn't better," said Schiff, before proceeding to lambast them for thinking "it's okay" that several other actions had taken place.

"I think it's immoral, I think it's unethical, I think it's unpatriotic, and yes, I think it's corrupt and evidence of collusion," said Schiff.

He refused rebuttal from the committee's Republicans before moving on to testimony from the hearing's first witness, former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul.