Two US diplomats told lawmakers the State Department was being used for domestic political purposes under President Donald Trump and warned that would hurt American interests, according to transcripts released on Monday in Congress' impeachment investigation.

The transcripts were the first released from the closed-door inquiry by the House Foreign Affairs, Intelligence and Oversight panels. They painted a detailed picture of the distress felt by top US diplomats as Trump allies tried to pressure Ukraine to launch investigations into the Republican president's domestic political rivals.

Marie Yovanovitch, whom Trump abruptly recalled as ambassador to Ukraine in May, told US House of Representatives committees about the attacks against her in conservative media and from close allies of Trump, questioning her loyalty to the president.

(Reuters)