Matt Gaetz Says Storming Impeachment Hearings was Like '300'

Congressman Matt Gaetz sure is feeling himself after leading the blitz of House Republicans into private impeachment hearings -- delaying them for hours -- and he's glowing about scoring brownie points with POTUS.

We got the Florida Rep. on Capitol Hill, shortly after members of his Freedom Caucus ignored protocol and barged into a secure facility Wednesday, where Adam Schiff was conducting a closed-door deposition as part of President Trump's impeachment inquiry.

Gaetz compared his move to the Spartans in the the 2006 movie, "300." Seriously, you gotta see how pumped he was -- we fully expected him to shout, "This ... is ... Washington!!!"

Gerard Butler Matt adds that he thinks their mission was accomplished for now. He says they demonstrated the Prez deserves due process, and Dems should provide transparency.

As for Trump, Gaetz says he hasn't spoken to him yet about the stunt he pulled with fellow Republicans, but he expects a strong reaction from the Oval. He went beyond gushing when we asked about his and Trump's relationship.

We asked if he's planning more demonstrations, and if he's willing to get arrested. Gaetz didn't flinch and, in fact, made a laughing reference to his 2008 DUI bust.

One thing he was NOT down to joke about ... comparing his sit-in protest to the so-called Brooks Brothers riot during Florida's 2000 election recount.