House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff Adam Bennett SchiffSchiff claims DHS is blocking whistleblower's access to records before testimony GOP lawmakers distance themselves from Trump comments on transfer of power Rubio on peaceful transfer of power: 'We will have a legitimate & fair election' MORE (D-Calif.) suggested Thursday that President Trump Donald John TrumpSteele Dossier sub-source was subject of FBI counterintelligence probe Pelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' Trump 'no longer angry' at Romney because of Supreme Court stance MORE played a role in House Republicans' decision to enter a secure area, known as a SCIF, where impeachment witness depositions are held.

In a CNN interview, Schiff said "the storming of the SCIF and all the other high jinks that the president concocts with them" showed a "lack of seriousness."

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Host Chris Cuomo Chris CuomoCNN's Don Lemon: 'Blow up the entire system' remark taken out of context CNN's Lemon: 'We're going to have to blow up the entire system' if Democrats win back White House, Senate Giuliani criticizes NYC leadership: 'They're killing this city' MORE then asked the lawmaker if Trump "knew what they were doing or had a hand in what they did in storming the SCIF."

"Without a doubt," Schiff said. "That happened the morning after a meeting with these ... Tea Party members who came storming in the next day."

"Much of the Republican party has become a cult of personality around the president," he said later.

Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff: Republican complaints about the impeachment inquiry process being unfair are “almost completely false.” https://t.co/iSxPW9X0Td pic.twitter.com/jUQk3nFEAc — Cuomo Prime Time (@CuomoPrimeTime) November 1, 2019

"He did not play any role," she said in an email to The Hill.

A group of House Republicans entered the secure area last week after complaining about the closed-door nature of the witness interviews.

Updated: 2:28 p.m.