Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Rep. Mark Meadows started the congressional hearing with Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer, by making a stir.

As soon as the House hearing got underway, the key Republican lawmaker claimed that the committee was violating its own rules.

Meadows, R-Transylvania and a top Trump ally, said Cohen was showing "disdain" for the committee process by failing to submit his prepared remarks ahead of time.

Meadows claimed it was an intentional "violation of the rules."

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Cohen's much-anticipated testimony was received by the committee the night before Wednesday's session, according to the chairman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, Democratic Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland.

Cummings, of Maryland, says Cohen's testimony is necessary because it's the committee's job to search out the truth. Cummings says the committee won't restrict any questions, and that means some lawmakers may ask about special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation.

Meadows made a motion to postpone the hearing. Lawmakers quickly voted to reject the motion and the hearing resumed.

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Cohen, who was Trump's longtime fixer, is the first high-profile witness called before the committee as newly empowered Democrats pursue an aggressive effort to investigate the president.

Cohen played a pivotal role in buying the silence of a porn actress and a former Playboy Playmate who both alleged they had sex with Trump. The president has denied their claims.

Cohen has pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations connected to the payments and to lying to Congress.

He's set to begin a three-year prison sentence in May.