Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) accused special counsel John Durham of violating Justice Department protocol by speaking on a pending investigation.
Schiff's accusation came during Durham's appearance before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, his first public testimony since he released his final report, which concluded that the FBI had no proper basis for launching its investigation into whether Russia and former President Donald Trump colluded to interfere in the 2016 election.
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The California Democrat asked Durham whether he broke DOJ policy by publicly disagreeing with Inspector General Michael Horowitz's findings in the Crossfire Hurricane inquiry.
"When the inspector general issued a report, saying that the investigation was properly predicated, you spoke out — in violation of Department of Justice policy — to criticize the inspector general's conclusions, didn't you?" Schiff asked.
Durham said he issued a public statement but was "not aware" that he had violated any policy.
"I didn't do it anonymously; I didn't do it through third persons," Durham said.
Schiff, who led the Congressional investigation into Russia and Trump back when he chaired the House Judiciary, further pushed that Durham did violate department protocols.
"I don't know that. If I did, then I did, but I was not aware that I was violating some policy," Durham said.
Durham said he asked Horowitz to look at evidence that he believed "ought to affect portions of this report."
"And you thought it was appropriate for you to intervene with an independent investigation by the inspector general because you thought he was reaching a conclusion that you disagreed with. You thought that was appropriate," Schiff said.
Durham said his team was asked to review Horowitz's draft and bring forward any concerns that they had regarding the findings, causing Schiff and Durham to begin talking over each other. Eventually, Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) intervened and stopped their interaction.
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Last month, Durham released his report alleging the FBI and DOJ had no basis for launching the investigation into alleged ties between Russia and Trump's 2016 presidential campaign.
House Republicans have used the report as ammunition for their claims of the "weaponization" of the FBI and Justice Department, which has spurred several committee investigations, hearings, and testimonies.