Politics

Democrats New Talking Point: ‘Disband’ Benghazi Committee

Donna Brazile
Alex Pappas Political Reporter
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Seizing on comments made this week by House majority leader Kevin McCarthy, Democrats and supporters of Hillary Clinton are repeating the same message: “disband” the House Benghazi committee.

“Every American should be outraged by this politically motivated sham,” California Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer wrote in a Wednesday letter to Speaker John Boehner. “It is time to disband this committee, which is clearly not focused on a tragedy but on a political smear campaign.”

Appearing on Fox News’ Hannity show Tuesday, McCarthy, running to replace Boehner as speaker of the House, pointed out the Benghazi committee has hurt Hillary Clinton in the polls.

“Everybody thought Hillary Clinton was unbeatable, right?” McCarthy told Hannity. “But we put together a Benghazi special committee. A select committee. What are her numbers today? Her numbers are dropping. Why? Because she’s un-trustable. But no one would have known that any of that had happened had we not fought to make that happen.”

Defenders of McCarthy say he was merely pointing out the facts: the email scandal Clinton finds herself in is the result of the work of the committee. But Democrats are using McCarthy’s comments to argue the committee isn’t working to uncover facts about the attacks that left four Americans dead but to just harm Clinton in the presidential race.

At least two other Clinton supporters called on the House leadership to “disband” the committee. Democratic strategist Donna Brazile and Texas Rep. Eddie Bernie Johnson both tweeted identical messages Wednesday calling for leaders to “disband” the committee.

Clinton, who was secretary of state during the attacks, is scheduled to testify before the committee Oct. 22.

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