This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/22/us/politics/bucking-deputies-pelosi-picks-5-democrats-for-benghazi-panel.html

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Pelosi Picks 5 Democrats For Panel On Benghazi Pelosi Picks 5 Democrats for Panel on Benghazi
(about 2 hours later)
WASHINGTON — Representative Nancy Pelosi of California on Wednesday appointed a full slate of senior House Democrats to a special committee investigating the 2012 attack on the diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, surprising some in her party by giving legitimacy to an inquiry many had dismissed as a political stunt.WASHINGTON — Representative Nancy Pelosi of California on Wednesday appointed a full slate of senior House Democrats to a special committee investigating the 2012 attack on the diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, surprising some in her party by giving legitimacy to an inquiry many had dismissed as a political stunt.
Ms. Pelosi conceded that congressional Democrats were divided on the wisdom of the move, but argued that by participating, Democrats could influence the direction of the investigation and get access to documents and other evidence.Ms. Pelosi conceded that congressional Democrats were divided on the wisdom of the move, but argued that by participating, Democrats could influence the direction of the investigation and get access to documents and other evidence.
By naming members who served on committees that have already investigated the attack, Ms. Pelosi raised the pressure on Representative Trey Gowdy, Republican of South Carolina and the chairman of the special committee.By naming members who served on committees that have already investigated the attack, Ms. Pelosi raised the pressure on Representative Trey Gowdy, Republican of South Carolina and the chairman of the special committee.
If he recycles previously reviewed material, Democrats from those committees will be there to dismiss it as old news. If he finds new information, Democrats can raise questions about why it was not unearthed by the Armed Services, Intelligence or Oversight Committees, all of which have already investigated the attack. “We need someone in that room to simply defend the truth,” said Representative Elijah E. Cummings of Maryland, the ranking Democrat on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, who was appointed to the special committee.If he recycles previously reviewed material, Democrats from those committees will be there to dismiss it as old news. If he finds new information, Democrats can raise questions about why it was not unearthed by the Armed Services, Intelligence or Oversight Committees, all of which have already investigated the attack. “We need someone in that room to simply defend the truth,” said Representative Elijah E. Cummings of Maryland, the ranking Democrat on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, who was appointed to the special committee.
Emissaries from Hillary Rodham Clinton’s political camp also made it clear to the House Democratic leadership that they wanted Democrats in the room as the special committee deliberated, a senior Democratic leadership aide said.
The Benghazi attack left four Americans dead, including the ambassador to Libya, J. Christopher Stevens. The aftermath exploded into a partisan battle in Washington, yielding eight investigations and tens of thousands of pages of documents and emails. For months, Speaker John A. Boehner resisted pressure from conservatives in the Republican Party to name a special committee.The Benghazi attack left four Americans dead, including the ambassador to Libya, J. Christopher Stevens. The aftermath exploded into a partisan battle in Washington, yielding eight investigations and tens of thousands of pages of documents and emails. For months, Speaker John A. Boehner resisted pressure from conservatives in the Republican Party to name a special committee.
But after legal action unearthed a new email that the White House appeared to have concealed, he relented this month, naming Mr. Gowdy, a dogged prosecutor before his election in 2010, to lead the panel. But according to Mr. Gowdy, Mr. Boehner was clear in setting its mission: Just the facts.But after legal action unearthed a new email that the White House appeared to have concealed, he relented this month, naming Mr. Gowdy, a dogged prosecutor before his election in 2010, to lead the panel. But according to Mr. Gowdy, Mr. Boehner was clear in setting its mission: Just the facts.
“I know I have been accused of being theatrical in the past,” Mr. Gowdy said in an interview on Wednesday. “This is not going to be theatrical.”“I know I have been accused of being theatrical in the past,” Mr. Gowdy said in an interview on Wednesday. “This is not going to be theatrical.”
Mr. Gowdy said he was pleased that Ms. Pelosi had chosen lawmakers with real heft.Mr. Gowdy said he was pleased that Ms. Pelosi had chosen lawmakers with real heft.
The Democrats chosen were Mr. Cummings, who clashed repeatedly over Benghazi with the chairman of the Oversight Committee, Representative Darrell Issa of California; Adam Smith of Washington, the ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee; Adam B. Schiff of California, a member of the Intelligence Committee; Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, a decorated and severely wounded combat veteran of the Iraq war; and Linda T. Sánchez of California, the ranking Democrat on the Ethics Committee.The Democrats chosen were Mr. Cummings, who clashed repeatedly over Benghazi with the chairman of the Oversight Committee, Representative Darrell Issa of California; Adam Smith of Washington, the ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee; Adam B. Schiff of California, a member of the Intelligence Committee; Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, a decorated and severely wounded combat veteran of the Iraq war; and Linda T. Sánchez of California, the ranking Democrat on the Ethics Committee.
The Republican members, by contrast, largely lack foreign policy and military credentials, although with Mr. Gowdy and Representative Susan W. Brooks of Indiana, they have prosecutorial experience. They include Representative Peter Roskam of Illinois, Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio, Representative Mike Pompeo of Kansas, Representative Martha Roby of Alabama and Representative Lynn Westmoreland of Georgia. Mr. Westmoreland is the deputy chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee. Mr. Roskam is the Republican leadership’s chief deputy whip. The Republican members, by contrast, largely lack foreign policy and military credentials, although with Mr. Gowdy and Representative Susan W. Brooks of Indiana, they have prosecutorial experience. They include Representative Peter Roskam of Illinois, Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio, Representative Mike Pompeo of Kansas, Representative Martha Roby of Alabama and Representative Lynn Westmoreland of Georgia. Mr. Westmoreland is the deputy chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee.
Mr. Gowdy said Mr. Cummings had met with him this week to seek assurances that the proceedings would go forward without spectacle. Much of the work will be done through depositions, not open committee hearings, although there will be some. For now, both sides need to build their staffs and examine documents already in hand to determine what else to seek. That could take a long time. Mr. Gowdy said Mr. Cummings had met with him this week to seek assurances that the proceedings would go forward without spectacle. Much of the work will be done through depositions, not open committee hearings, although there will be some.
Mr. Gowdy said he would like to hire a nonpartisan woman as chief counsel, since many of the important witnesses will be women. Mr. Gowdy said he would like to hire a nonpartisan woman as chief counsel, since many of the witnesses will be women.