House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff Adam Bennett SchiffSchiff to subpoena top DHS official, alleges whistleblower deposition is being stonewalled Schiff claims DHS is blocking whistleblower's access to records before testimony GOP lawmakers distance themselves from Trump comments on transfer of power MORE (D-Calif.) clashed with Republicans on Tuesday after it appeared that Rep. Devin Nunes Devin Gerald NunesOvernight Defense: Stopgap spending measure awaits Senate vote | Trump nominates former Nunes aide for intelligence community watchdog | Trump extends ban on racial discrimination training to contractors, military Trump nominates former Nunes aide to serve as intel community inspector general Sunday shows preview: Justice Ginsburg dies, sparking partisan battle over vacancy before election MORE (R-Calif.), the panel's ranking member, was trying to zero in on the identity of the whistleblower who sparked an impeachment inquiry into President Trump Donald John TrumpFederal prosecutor speaks out, says Barr 'has brought shame' on Justice Dept. Former Pence aide: White House staffers discussed Trump refusing to leave office Progressive group buys domain name of Trump's No. 1 Supreme Court pick MORE.

Nunes questioned Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman Alexander VindmanImpeachment witness Alexander Vindman calls Trump Putin's 'useful idiot' The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by The Air Line Pilots Association - Trump, Biden renew push for Latino support Strzok: Trump behaving like an authoritarian MORE, a Ukraine specialist on the White House National Security Council (NSC), during a public hearing on the anonymous whistleblower who initially brought up concerns around a phone call between Trump and Ukraine's president in July.

Vindman said he had had discussions with two officials who were “properly cleared individuals with a need-to-know” basis for such information.

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Vindman identified a member in the intelligence community and George Kent, a senior State Department official who testified publicly last week.

Nunes then asked which intelligence agency the whistleblower works in, at which point Schiff intervened.

Schiff noted that he wanted to “make sure there is no effort to out the whistleblower through the use of these proceedings."

"If the witness has a good-faith belief that this may reveal the identity of the whistleblower, this is not the purpose that we are here for, and I want to advise the witness accordingly,” the California Democrat added.

Several Republican lawmakers seated in the public viewing gallery immediately reacted with an “Ah ha,” to Schiff’s interjection.

Nunes protested, saying it was the Republicans' time to question the witness, but both Schiff and Vindman’s lawyer said they would not participate in efforts to identify the person who first came forward with allegations about Trump’s July 25 phone call.

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Vindman said that he did not know the identity of the whistleblower, but also noted that he had been “advised not to answer specific questions about members of the intelligence community.”

Rep. Devin Nunes, Rep. Adam Schiff and Lt. Col. Vindman's counsel clash over line of questioning about identity of whistleblower.



"I want to make sure there's no effort to out the whistleblower through the use of these proceedings," Schiff says. https://t.co/SfAn7Bnx4h pic.twitter.com/nxiJ6iEgXj — ABC News (@ABC) November 19, 2019

Nunes told Vindman that he could either “answer my question or plead the Fifth,” referring to the Fifth Amendment.

Vindman still refused to identify the whistleblower.

At one point, Vindman also corrected Nunes on his title after the California Republican addressed him as “Mr. Vindman.”

"Ranking member, it's Lieutenant Colonel Vindman, please,” he said.

Republicans have repeatedly called for the whistleblower’s identity to be revealed and for the person to give a deposition, requests that Schiff blocked last week.