Republicans on the House Select Committee on Benghazi defended their desire to prevent the publication of transcripts from interviews with witnesses Monday after panel Democrats announced their intention to release the documents.
“The committee has not released transcripts from witness interviews for myriad reasons, including the need to hear from all witnesses and gather all facts before drawing inferences or conclusions from those interviews, and the need to avoid tainting the recollections of future witnesses,” said Jamal Ware, spokesman for committee Republicans.
Ware blasted the minority for releasing portions of an interview with Cheryl Mills, Hillary Clinton’s former chief of staff, in a letter to Chairman Trey Gowdy Monday.
“By selectively leaking and spinning parts of Secretary Clinton’s top aide Cheryl Mills’ transcript, Democrats have shown their nakedly political motivation, willingness to violate the letter and spirit of House Rules and their desire to defend Secretary Clinton without regard for the integrity of the investigation,” Ware said.
He noted most Democrats on the committee had endorsed Clinton in her presidential bid and accused the lawmakers of “running a protection effort for the former secretary.”
“Of the 41 new witnesses interviewed, Democrats suggested zero,” Ware said. “It is one thing to merely sit idly by while others do serious work, it is quite another to attempt to undercut that work with selective leaks in violation of House Rules.” Democrats on the committee have accused Republicans of selectively leaking details about key witness interviews in an attempt to disparage Clinton.
Minority members said they plan to publish Mills’ testimony, which she gave behind closed doors on Sept. 3, within five days. Gowdy has said in the past that he intends to treat the Mills transcript as classified.
