White House officials delivered a batch of new documents to the House Select Committee on Benghazi Wednesday in response to a request the committee had filed almost a year ago.
The documents, which were classified at varying levels, dealt with the military’s response to the 2012 terror attack on the U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi.
“The Select Committee on Benghazi is writing the final, definitive accounting on the terrorist attacks that left four of our fellow Americans dead,” said Jamal Ware, spokesman for committee Republicans. “This production of new documents will help inform this effort, as the committee compiles the most comprehensive set of facts related to the attacks — a process that has been slowed by the administration’s delays and ongoing failure to comply with outstanding requests.”
Democrats on and off the panel have criticized the investigation for stretching into the presidential primary season, accusing Republicans on the committee of using the process to go after Hillary Clinton for political reasons.
But the 10-month delay in receiving the latest batch of Benghazi documents illustrates the challenges committee members have faced when attempting to extract records from federal agencies.
For example, the State Department did not respond to requests for the emails of Ambassador Chris Stevens, who was killed in the attack, until earlier this month. The agency has stonewalled requests for other types of records, complicating lawmakers’ efforts to arm themselves with documents before questioning key witnesses.
White House officials did not allow the committee to keep some of the documents they delivered Wednesday, allowing members and staff to review those records in person before removing the documents. They left other records in the possession of the committee.
The production included some documents that were classified as “secret” and others that were classified at the “top secret” level, the highest designation a record can receive.
Scrutiny of the select committee reached a fever pitch last week when Clinton appeared before the panel for a highly-anticipated public hearing.
Lawmakers unveiled a series of new findings during the hearing, including emails that cast doubt on statements Clinton made in the wake of the attack and indications that Clinton was more involved in the process of screening her emails than she had previously let on.
Even so, the hearing was widely perceived as a victory for Clinton, who emerged from the 11-hour interview unburdened from much of the email-related baggage she carried during the early months of her campaign.
Committee Democrats had threatened to step off the panel amid controversy over its motives, but opted to remain in their positions the day after the hearing.
Republicans on the panel have repeatedly noted that minority members have declined to participate in most of the committee’s witness interviews and document requests, despite their criticism of the way the investigation has been run.
