ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION) House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler on Friday said the committee still does not have answers on whether acting U.S. Attorney General Matthew Whitaker interfered with special counsel's probe into whether Moscow tried to tip the 2016 election.

Whitaker snapped back on Friday at newly emboldened Democrats in Congress who are pushing for information on the special counsel's Russia probe as they try to put President Donald Trump's administration under greater scrutiny.

In a combative congressional hearing, Whitaker said he had not talked to Trump about the probe into whether Moscow tried to tip the 2016 presidential election, or "interfered in any way" in the investigation since taking his role in November.

Democrats, who took control of the House of Representatives after last year's congressional elections, accused Whitaker of being evasive in front of the panel and frequently clashed with him.

The hearing room erupted in gasps when Whitaker pushed back strongly against a question from Nadler, a Democrat, about whether he had ever been asked to approve any action requested by Mueller.

"Mr. Chairman, I see that your five minutes is up," Whitaker said, in a bold challenge to the head of the committee.

"I am here voluntarily.

We have agreed to five-minute rounds," he added.

"Answer the question please," Nadler replied.