|
 |
 |
|
Rep. Wolf pushes for new Benghazi select committee
Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.) is trying to create a new temporary committee to investigate the Sept. 11 attack on the U.S. facility in Benghazi in the 113th Congress.
Wolf is offering an amendment to the 113th Congress Rules package Wednesday to create a temporary “House Select Committee on the Terrorist Attack in Benghazi,” following up on legislation that he introduced that would do the same thing.
The idea for a select committee on Benghazi was also raised in the Senate, where Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) called for a new panel, too.
But Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) quickly shot down the idea, and it did not garner much support with the group’s Senate Republican colleagues either.
Wolf first introduced his resolution in December, which currently has 34 co-sponsors.
His office said that the select committee “would combine the multiple current investigations to prevent overlap, avoid jurisdictional gaps and ensure a comprehensive review.”
The committee would include top lawmakers from the Intelligence, Foreign Affairs, Armed Services, Judiciary, Government Reform and Homeland Security Committees. The Select Committee would release a report on the attack within 90 days of its first meeting.
Many House and Senate committees are already investigating the Benghazi attack, and top officials have testified before several panels.
The Senate Homeland Security Committee released a report on the attack Monday, which faulted both the State Department and Pentagon for the attack. An independent Accountability Review Board also released its own report last month focused on the State Department’s role and missteps.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had to postpone plans to testify in Congress last month when she became ill, but has said she will still testify before the House Foreign Affairs Committee in the next Congress.
