House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, in an interview with Fox News
on Thursday, walked back comments on the Benghazi committee that have
caused a political storm for his caucus and led to renewed Democratic
calls for it to be disbanded.
McCarthy, the leading candidate for House speaker, earlier this week
was accused by Democrats of implying the committee was created to
politically damage Hillary Clinton, after he linked its work to her
dropping poll numbers. On Thursday, some Republicans also criticized
him, and urged him to clarify his remarks.
Speaking with Fox News’ Bret Baier in a "Special Report" exclusive
interview, McCarthy said he “never meant to imply" that the Benghazi
committee has any political motivations.
"This committee was set up for one sole purpose - to find the truth
on behalf of the families for four dead Americans," McCarthy said. "Now,
I did not intend to imply in any way that work is political."
House Speaker John Boehner staunchly defended McCarthy on Thursday
after senior Democrats called for the Benghazi investigation committee
to be disbanded, claiming Boehner's top deputy -- and the favorite to
step into the speaker's shoes -- implied in an interview the panel was
created to politically damage Clinton.
The comments gave Democrats an opening to reprise allegations the
committee is merely a political tool. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, the chamber's
top Democrat, said Thursday that the investigation is "unethical" and
the panel should be shut down. Pelosi also questioned whether the panel
violates House rules forbidding spending taxpayer dollars for political
purposes.
But Boehner, without mentioning McCarthy's remarks, fired back and issued a statement saying the panel would keep working.
"This investigation has never been about former Secretary of State
Clinton and never will be," he said. "... The members of this committee
have worked diligently and professionally to fulfill this important
mission and they will continue to do so.”
"The American people deserve the truth about what happened in
Benghazi. That's always been our focus, and that's going to remain our
focus."
McCarthy made the comments in an interview Tuesday night with Fox
News' Sean Hannity. Describing how he would be different as speaker,
McCarthy said he'd be a "conservative speaker that takes a conservative
Congress that puts a strategy to fight and win."
He added: "And let me give you one example. Everybody thought Hillary
Clinton was unbeatable, right? But we put together a Benghazi special
committee, a select committee. What are her numbers today? Her numbers
are dropping. Why? Because she's un-trustable. But no one would have
known any of that had happened had we not ..."
Democrats swiftly suggested his comments undermine claims by the
committee's leader and other Republicans that the panel is only seeking
the truth about the deadly 2012 attacks at a U.S. diplomatic facility in
Benghazi, Libya.
"I appreciate Rep. McCarthy finally coming clean and admitting what
we have all known all along: that the Benghazi Select Committee was
designed and created as a political attack tool to damage a potential
Democratic presidential nominee," Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., a Benghazi
committee member and top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee,
said in a statement.
Some Republicans also suggested this week that McCarthy's comments
could damage the credibility of the committee and it's chairman, Rep.
Trey Gowdy, R-SC.
"I think it's a total mischaracterization of the good work that's
been done on the Benghazi committee," Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, said
of McCarthy's comments in an interview with the Associated Press.
Chaffetz, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform
Committee, said he told McCarthy privately Wednesday that he still
supported his bid to become speaker but considered his comments untrue.
“To discredit the committee and its purpose was wrong and he should walk back those statements," Chaffetz told the AP.
Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., expressed similar sentiments to Chaffetz
on Thursday, saying, "I think he should apologize to the families
because his statement jeopardizes the committee's work and trivializes
it."
McCarthy said Thursday he’s spoken with Gowdy on how he never meant to imply the committee was political.
"I talked to Trey, and I told him, I regret that this has ever taken
place, it is never my intention," McCarthy told Fox News’ Brett Baier,
"and Trey goes, 'I know it's not your intention, because you know it's
not political.'"
Though he acknowledged his comments were a "setback," McCarthy also
brushed off suggestions that his words could affect his push to replace
outgoing House Speaker John Boehner.
"We're going to be able to win this race," he said.
But his comments are getting mixed reviews from Republicans as he
approaches an initial test vote to succeed House Speaker John Boehner.
“Nobody has 218 today for Speaker,” said Rep. Tim Huelskamp, R-Kan.
“Those comments were not helpful. I don’t think that got him one vote.”
“Kevin (McCarthy) is dealing with some very thin margins on the floor
(in the Speakership vote),” said Rep. David Jolly, R-Fla,. “He has had
to backpedal. It’s took it toll. It was regretful.”
The remarks by Huelskamp and Jolly suggest that since McCarthy can’t
get to 218 votes, he can’t afford to waste any vote. Any sort of bump in
the road may have negative consequences for McCarthy.
“I don’t think the leader meant to say what this is being construed
as,” said Rep. Brian Babin. R-Texas.“It certainly was something that was
unfortunate.”