House Speaker John Boehner says the House Select Committee on Benghazi isn’t out of bounds for calling Secretary of State John Kerry’s top staffer to testify.
“Listen, four Americans lost their lives in this terrorist attack. Their families and fellow citizens deserve to see all of the facts. It’s not too much to ask nor, frankly, is it too much to expect from our government,” the Ohio Republican told reporters during a Thursday press conference.
“By refusing to comply with all relevant requests for documents, Secretary Clinton and the State Department are actually prolonging this investigation,” Boehner said.
Select committee Chairman Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) on Wednesday called on Jon Finer, Kerry’s chief of staff, to appear before the panel next week to discuss State’s compliance with the ongoing congressional investigation, especially on the rate of its document production.
Gowdy threatened to issue a subpoena for Finer if he doesn’t cooperate but added his appearance could be delayed if State makes “substantial” document production beforehand.“
“If State fails to make this production or if Mr. Finer refuses to come voluntarily, he will be subpoenaed,” Gowdy said in a statement.
Foggy Bottom shot down a previous request from the GOP-controlled panel to have Finer appear next Tuesday at the same exact time Kerry is due to testify about the Iran nuclear deal before the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
State argued that Finer, who stayed in Vienna for weeks while Kerry put the finishing touches on the agreement, is too busy getting Congress up to speed on the accord to testify before the select committee.