House Speaker John Boehner on Thursday defended the House committee investigating the 2012 terrorist attacks in Benghazi amid criticism from Democrats who say the GOP has admitted it’s purpose is to defeat Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton.
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“This investigation has never been about former Secretary of State Clinton and never will be,” Boehner said in a statement.
Boehner said he appointed the panel “to investigate what happened before, during, and after the terrorist attack in Benghazi, and to ensure that justice is finally served.”
Democrats are calling for the panel to be disbanded after House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., credited it with bringing down Clinton’s poll numbers.
The panel’s probe includes Clinton’s role before, during and after the Sept. 11, 2012 attacks, when she was secretary of State. Four Americans were killed, including Ambassador Chris Stevens, who had requested additional security from the State Department but did not receive it.
The investigation revealed Clinton’s use of a private computer server and email account that included information later deemed classified, some of which was recovered after she deleted it.
Boehner said Clinton and the Obama administration have worked to stall the panel’s investigation by failing to turn over information.
He called on Clinton to turn over the server to “an independent, third party, like the FBI,” and he noted the Benghazi panel has conducted most interviews in private.
“The American people deserve the truth about what happened in Benghazi,” Boehner said. “That’s always been our focus, and that’s going to remain our focus.”
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., on Thursday called on Republicans to disband the Benghazi panel and said the committee may be in violation of House ethics rules, which prohibit spending federal funds for political purposes.
