Democrats say latest flap proves House Benghazi Committee is 'beyond repair'

House Benghazi Committee Chairman Trey Gowdy
(Image credit: Getty Images)

The House Select Committee on Benghazi hasn't held a public hearing since former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's marathon testimony in October, but that doesn't mean it has ceased operating. On Sunday, two senior Democrats on the committee, Reps. Elijah Cummings (Md.) and Adam Smith (Wash.), sent a letter to committee Chairman Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) accusing him of omitting exculpatory statements from the committee Republicans' lawyer when he attacked complaints from the Pentagon.

On April 28, Stephen C. Hedger, assistant secretary of defense for legislative affairs, complained that the Benghazi panel was sending a costly "crescendo" of duplicative and unnecessary records requests, including some based on claims from Facebook and talk radio. Gowdy responded with a letter to Defense Secretary Ash Carter saying Hedger's letter was "riddled with factual inaccuracies" and was "a disservice to the public."

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.