http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=73D454E3-294E-4AE0-9BD8-F2984DD53E47 Nancy Pelosi names Democrats for Benghazi panel
By: Jake Sherman and Lauren French
May 21, 2014 11:27 AM EDT
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi — after a heated debate over the issue within her caucus — officially tapped five Democrats to the special committee charged with investigating the Benghazi attacks.
Democratic Reps. Elijah Cummings (Md.), Adam Smith (Wash.), Adam Schiff (Calif.), Linda Sanchez (Calif.) and Tammy Duckworth (Ill.) will serve on the panel, which is headed by South Carolina Republican Trey Gowdy.
Cummings of Maryland will serve as the select committee’s ranking member. The lead Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, Cummings has often served as a sparring partner over Benghazi with Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.).
Smith, Schiff and Duckworth have responsibilities related to defense and foreign service as part of their other committee assignments.
The announcement comes after Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) met for an hour Tuesday to negotiate over the probe.
Appointing Democrats to the panel marks a departure for Pelosi, who initially didn’t want to dignify the committee by naming any Democrats to it. Her perspective changed, however, after fellow Democrats said she should appoint at least a few Democrats to sit on it in order to counter claims by Republicans. Some Democrats also felt the party should be represented if Republicans subpoena high-level Obama administration officials, including former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
The committee, which the House agreed to create earlier this month in a party-line vote, created seven seats for Republicans and five for Democrats.
Smith, Schiff and Duckworth have responsibilities related to defense and foreign service as part of their other committee assignments.
The announcement comes after Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) met for an hour Tuesday to negotiate over the probe.
Appointing Democrats to the panel marks a departure for Pelosi, who initially didn’t want to dignify the committee by naming any Democrats to it. Her perspective changed, however, after fellow Democrats said she should appoint at least a few Democrats to sit on it in order to counter claims by Republicans. Some Democrats also felt the party should be represented if Republicans subpoena high-level Obama administration officials, including former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
The committee, which the House agreed to create earlier this month in a party-line vote, created seven seats for Republicans and five for Democrats.
