June 6, 2016
Press ReleaseWashington, D.C. — Select Committee on Benghazi Chairman Trey Gowdy (SC-04) sent the following letter to Ranking Minority Member Elijah Cummings and the other Committee Democrats in response to their letter regarding the committee’s final report.
Gowdy reminds the Minority of just how unhelpful they have been during the investigation, and points out that if their previous statements about the committee finding “nothing new” and gaining “no additional insight” are true, “it makes little sense for the Minority to suddenly be interested in the committee’s report.”
He further outlines how Republicans have gone out of their way to include the Minority in the investigation in the past, only to have Democrats use it against the committee. “[Y]ou have spent far more time writing letters, selectively leaking material, and spreading mischaracterizations than you have actually participating in this investigation,” Gowdy writes.
Gowdy also highlights Rep. Cummings’ widely-reported focus on the former Secretary of State – he has been described as her “defense attorney,” “chief defender,” “top supporter,” “staunch defender,” and “biggest defender” – in contrast to Committee Republicans’ commitment to conducting a serious, fair investigation focused on the facts.
“Despite your efforts to undermine and obstruct our fact-centered work, rest assured all members of the Committee will have the opportunity to review the report and offer changes in a manner consistent with the rules of the House,” Gowdy closes.
Gowdy Is ‘Amused’ Benghazi Committee Dems Think They’re Getting a Say in Final Report
TownHall: House Benghazi Select Committee Chairman Trey Gowdy (R-SC) just about laughed out loud when he read that the committee’s Democrats wanted to have a say in the panel’s final report on their 2-year investigation. This, after representatives like Elijah Cummings (D-MD) have criticized the committee for months as a political scam intended to jeopardize former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s White House chances. Now he suddenly wants to contribute to their last efforts?
With this context, Gowdy responded with a letter of his own.
“Your May 31st letter was mildly amusing but not altogether surprising,” Gowdy starts.
“It is mildly amusing that after two years of abject obstruction, after two years of not lifting a finger to assist the Majority with the investigation, after two years of doing everything in your power to prevent a report from being written, you now want to participate in the drafting of the report.”
The chairman’s letter takes an even more sarcastic turn when he starts to “refresh” the Democrats on how “helpful” they’ve been throughout the investigation.
“[Y]ou have spent far more time writing letters, selectively leaking material, and spreading mischaracterizations than you have actually participating in this investigation,” he writes.
If Cummings and his fellow liberal lawmakers were so critical of their own committee, why would they expect any kind of input in the panel’s final and most important report?
This letter makes it clear that Gowdy regrets having Cummings sit on the Benghazi panel. While the committee does its job and asks witnesses, including Clinton, questions that need to be asked about September 11, 2012, Cummings has done nothing but complain.
Every time the panel holds a hearing, it is evident that Cummings would rather be anywhere else. Now that the committee is coming to a conclusion, he’ll get his wish.
