Democrats to decide on Benghazi committee on Friday

On Friday morning, Democrats at the House of Representatives are expected to meet to discuss on whether it will appoint lawmakers to form a select committee that will probe on the Benghazi affair, Politico said in a report. Although several Democrats like House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi initially believed that a probe on the government handling of the Benghazi affair was completely overboard, the tide appeared to have turned as they would want to protect the Obama administration and respond to the GOP-led select committee.

The 60-people American diplomatic mission at Benghazi, Libya and individuals stationed at a nearby Central Intelligence Agency annex were attacked on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks two years ago. The attacks resulted to the deaths of US Ambassador J Christopher Stevens, US Foreign Service Information Management Officer Sean Smith and two CIA contractors. The initial report pointed to a spontaneous protest against the controversial film "Innocence of Muslims," which was discovered to have not existed. The GOP had since accused the US government of negligence and cover-up of the attacks.

Politico said that the Democrats' decision to participate in the probe on the Benghazi attacks was because of Hillary Clinton, the party's 2016 presidential nomination who is expected to testify about the affair. Representative Henry Waxman, who chairs both the Oversight and Energy and Commerce committees and had spoken in favor of appointing Democrats in the Benghazi probe, also said that it would be likely that National Security Adviser Susan Rice might be ordered to give her testimony.

Waxman told reporters on Thursday, "I think a lot of people are so outraged at the idea of a committee, but they think, ‘Well, we shouldn't give it recognition, but if it's going to happen, then we ought to be there and point out the problems with it.'"

Meanwhile, a bill that would establish the select committee to probe on the handling of Benghazi will be on the floor on Thursday and is expected to be passed. Sources told Politico that the GOP will announce its members for the committee on Friday.

Tags

Benghazi Attack, Benghazi cover-up probe, Hillary Clinton, GOP, Democrats

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