House GOPer: Yep, Benghazi Panel ‘Was Designed To Go After’ Hillary (AUDIO)

UNITED STATES - APRIL 18: Rep. Richard Hanna, R-N.Y., attends a Joint Economic Committee hearing in Hart Building titled "The Fed at 100: Can Monetary Policy Close the Growth Gap and Promote a Sound Dollar." (Photo B... UNITED STATES - APRIL 18: Rep. Richard Hanna, R-N.Y., attends a Joint Economic Committee hearing in Hart Building titled "The Fed at 100: Can Monetary Policy Close the Growth Gap and Promote a Sound Dollar." (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call) (CQ Roll Call via AP Images) MORE LESS
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Despite House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy’s (R-CA) attempt to walk back his comment that the House Benghazi committee had successfully hurt Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign, a Republican congressman said on Wednesday that the committee “was designed to go after” the Democratic frontrunner.

While discussing the race to replace House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) on New York radio station WIBX 950’s “Keeler in the Morning,” Rep. Richard Hanna (R-NY) brought up McCarthy’s comments and the House Select Committee on Benghazi.

“Kevin McCarthy basically blew himself up with that comment over the Benghazi committee,” Hanna said. “Sometimes the biggest sin you can commit in D.C. is to tell the truth.”

“This may not be politically correct, but I think that there was a big part of this investigation that was designed to go after people and an individual, Hillary Clinton,” he continued.

Hanna added that the Benghazi committee was not created entirely to attack Clinton.

“I think there’s also a lot of it that’s important, that we needed to get to the bottom of this,” he said on “Keeler in the Morning.” “After what Kevin McCarthy said, it’s difficult to accept at least a part of it was not. And I think that’s the way Washington works. But you’d like to expect more from a committee that’s spent millions of dollars and tons of time.”

Hanna’s frank comments about the investigation into the Benghazi attacks follow McCarthy’s attempt to walk back his comments.

After boasting that the Benghazi committee had hurt Clinton’s poll numbers, McCarthy, who had been running for speaker, made numerous attempts to clarify that the committee was formed to find the facts about the Benghazi attack. He ultimately dropped out of the speaker race, leaving House Republicans scrambling to find a candidate who could win over the entire conference.

Listen to Hanna’s remarks. He brings up Benghazi near the 9:40 mark.

H/t ThinkProgress

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