(CNN) Lawmakers on the House Intelligence Committee are bracing for a contentious flareup Tuesday when Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman testifies because Republicans could ask him about his conversations after President Donald Trump's infamous July phone call with the Ukrainian President.

When Republicans attempted a similar line of questioning behind closed doors during Vindman's deposition last month, Democrats accused the GOP of trying to out the whistleblower whose complaint spawned the impeachment inquiry, prompting a partisan shouting match and leaving lawmakers on both sides furious. House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff, a California Democrat, objected to the line of questioning, causing Republicans to cry foul.

Republicans told CNN Monday evening they would not shy away from that line of questioning during Tuesday's open hearing with Vindman, who serves on the White House National Security Council and reported his concerns about Trump's ask for Ukraine to investigate his political rivals.

GOP lawmakers argue they are not trying to uncover the identity of the whistleblower, but want to know the steps that Vindman took after the call and whether he appropriately reported his concerns up the chain of command. And they believe if Schiff objects Tuesday, they will once again use it as ammunition to accuse the California Democrat of heavy-handed leadership atop the panel.

Leaving a GOP strategy meeting Monday afternoon, Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio told CNN that no decisions have been made. But he indicated Schiff would not dictate their questions.

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