Judge Andrew Napolitano, the senior legal analyst for Fox News, said that House Democrats are following the impeachment inquiry rules that were set by Republicans in 2015 when they held control of the lower chamber.

“I read the House rules, and as frustrating as it may be to have these hearings going on behind closed doors, the hearings for which Congressman Schiff is presiding, they are consistent with the rules,” said Napolitano on the TV network’s program, Fox & Friends on Thursday.

In addition, Judge Napolitano noted that the manner in which the House Committees are conducting the “initial level of inquiry” is similar to the witness interviews during the impeachment proceedings involving President Richard Nixon and President Bill Clinton. He said the initial questioning of witnesses can be “done in secret.”

He made his comments after a group of House Republican lawmakers marched into the secure facility at the Capitol building where a witness, Pentagon official Laura Cooper was set to testify in the impeachment inquiry. The Republicans complained that the House Democrats are conducting a “sham” impeachment process because they are interviewing witnesses behind closed doors.

Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz led the group in protesting the impeachment process. He said, “Behind those doors they intend to overturn the results of an American presidential election. We want to know what’s going on. So far, Adam Schiff’s impeachment inquiry has been marked by secret interviews, selective hearings … and lies about contacts with a whistleblower.”

Judge Napolitano says there will be public impeachment hearings

Judge Napolitano said Republicans are protesting their own impeachment process. According to him, “When were the rules written last? In January of 2015 and who signed them? John Boehner [the Republican House Speaker] and who enacted them? A Republican majority.”

Furthermore, Judge Napolitano explained, “I get it. The Republicans are frustrated and they wanted to make a point and they made their point, but this is just not the most effective way to show respect for what your colleagues are doing.”

Moreover, he emphasized, “These are not the impeachment hearings” adding that House Democrats will eventually release to the public all the information they obtained from the impeachment inquiry. He also pointed out the House Judiciary Committee will hold official public hearings and the President’s lawyers can cross-examine witnesses.