Issue Position: Benghazi Select Committee

Issue Position

I believe the only way the American people will ever really find out what happened in Benghazi on September 11, 2012 is through an investigation led by a single, bipartisan panel that can cut across jurisdictional barriers in Congress, hold public hearings and subpoena witnesses, including senior staff at the Defense Department, State Department, CIA and the White House.

I have introduced legislation, H. Res. 36, to create a House Select Committee on Benghazi. It has more than 180 cosponsors -- a majority of the majority in the House -- and is endorsed by The American Legion, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, groups within the Special Operations community. the editorial page of The Wall Street Journal, respected national security leaders, like former Attorney General Mukasey, and some of the family members of the Benghazi victims.

I am mystified by the fact that the New Jersey Senate and Assembly quickly merged their separate inquiries into the George Washington Bridge controversy to form a unified select investigative committee yet, more than 17 months after the attacks on the U.S. Consulate and CIA annex in Benghazi -- where four Americans died, including the first sitting ambassador in 40 years, and many other were wounded -- congressional efforts to find out what happened remain disjointed. Don't we owe it to the families of the victims to do better?"

I believe "iron sharpens iron" and is why I think a single select committee, with Members of Congress and investigators from each of the five House committees presently investigating the attack working together to ensure a seamless review of all of the facts, is the best way to get to the bottom of what happened that night. I also believe it is the only way anyone will ever be held accountable.

Over the past year, I have repeatedly approached House Leadership about bringing H. Res. 36 to the floor for a vote. I have spoken on the House floor numerous times and remain in constant contact with my colleagues seeking additional co-sponsors to H. Res. 36. I also remain in close contact with a number of groups of the Hill who want to find out what happened that night.

This isn't about politics nor is it a vendetta. It's about the legislative branch conducting its most basic responsibility: strong oversight. To date, I do not believe anyone can honestly say Congress has fulfilled its constitutional responsibility with regard to Benghazi.

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