Gaetz: Some lawmakers reviewed transcript at White House

Rep. Matt GaetzMatthew (Matt) GaetzThe Hill's 12:30 Report — Presented by UANI — Judiciary Democrats approve articles of impeachment setting up House vote next week Democrats approve two articles of impeachment against Trump in Judiciary vote Photographer leaves Judiciary hearing after being accused of taking photos of member notes MORE (R-Fla.) said he and a group of lawmakers reviewed and spoke with President TrumpDonald John TrumpRepublicans aim to avoid war with White House over impeachment strategy New York Times editorial board calls for Trump's impeachment Trump rips Michigan Rep. Dingell after Fox News appearance: 'Really pathetic!' MORE about the memo of his call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House Wednesday.

"I've had the chance to review the transcripts and chat with the president about them," Gaetz told MSNBC's Hallie Jackson.

Gaetz and other Republicans got early peek at the WH call memo this morning with Trump pic.twitter.com/evMGaZXpCH

— TPM Livewire (@TPMLiveWire) September 25, 2019

When pressed by Jackson about who attended the White House meeting and whether the group included Republicans or Democrats, Florida representative said it was "a group of legislators." 

"I didn't check anybody's voter registration card," Gaetz said.

Separately, Sen. Ron JohnsonRonald (Ron) Harold JohnsonTrump scramble to rack up accomplishments gives conservatives heartburn Hillicon Valley: Twitter to start verifying 2020 primary candidates | FTC reportedly weighs injunction over Facebook apps | Bill would give DHS cyber unit subpoena powers | FCC moves to designate 988 as suicide-prevention hotline Senate Republicans air complaints to Trump administration on trade deal MORE (Wis.) said he was also in the group of Republican lawmakers who got to review the memo at White House. 

Johnson said identified other Republican lawmakers who were also present as Sens. Shelley Moore CapitoShelley Wellons Moore CapitoManchin warns he'll slow-walk government funding bill until he gets deal on miners legislation GOP senators unveil bill to expand 'opportunity zone' reporting requirements ICE emerges as stumbling block in government funding talks MORE (W.Va.), David Perdue (Ga.), Kevin CramerKevin John CramerOn The Money: Lawmakers strike spending deal | US, China reach limited trade deal ahead of tariff deadline | Lighthizer fails to quell GOP angst over new NAFTA Lighthizer fails to quell GOP angst on trade deal Republicans consider skipping witnesses in Trump impeachment trial MORE (N.D.), James Risch (Idaho), as well as Reps. Devin NunesDevin Gerald NunesDemocrats launch bilingual ad campaign off drug pricing bill Koch campaign touts bipartisan group behind ag labor immigration bill Hillicon Valley: Apple, Facebook defend encryption during Senate grilling | Tech legal shield makes it into trade deal | Impeachment controversy over phone records heats up | TikTok chief cancels Capitol Hill meetings MORE (Cali.), Jim JordanJames (Jim) Daniel JordanGOP lawmakers jockey for positions as managers Democrats approve two articles of impeachment against Trump in Judiciary vote Democrats object to Meadows passing note to Jordan from dais MORE (Ohio), Mark MeadowsMark Randall MeadowsRepublicans aim to avoid war with White House over impeachment strategy GOP lawmakers jockey for positions as managers The Hill's 12:30 Report — Presented by UANI — Sparks fly as House Judiciary debates impeachment articles MORE (N.C.), and Doug CollinsDouglas (Doug) Allen CollinsGOP lawmakers jockey for positions as managers Impeachment obliterates tinges of comity in House Overnight Defense: Mattis downplays Afghanistan papers | 'We probably weren't that good at' nation building | Judiciary panel approves two impeachment articles | Stage set for House vote next week MORE (Ga.).

The representative defended the president saying no wrongdoing was committed in the phone call, in which he said the presidents commended each other for fighting corruption.

"The bottom line here is: In this transcript there's no quid pro quo, there's no improper leverage and the overall tone of this transcript is that it's mutually laudatory," he said. 

The White House released a memorandum of the phone conversation between Trump and Zelensky Wednesday after mounting pressure from Democrats.

The release confirmed previous reports of the call that said the president asked Zelensky to "look into" former Vice President Joe BidenJoe BidenNew York Times editorial board calls for Trump's impeachment Graham invites Giuliani to testify about recent Ukraine trip Booker leads other 2020 Dems in petition urging DNC to change debate qualifications MORE after withholding military aid from the country days earlier. This exchange has provoked debates over whether Trump offered a quid pro quo to the Ukrainian president.

The call came to Congress's attention after the Trump administration refused to provide the House Intelligence Committee with a whistleblower report on the conversation that was subpoenaed. Media reports soon revealed the whistleblower report referred to this conversation. 

Several Democratic House members have voiced their support for an impeachment inquiry following news of the conversation, which House Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiUSMCA is nice but no model Anti-impeachment Democrat poised to switch parties Grassley urges White House to help farmers in year-end tax talks MORE (D-Calif.) announced Tuesday.

-- Updated at 2:38 p.m.