Trey Gowdy Names GOP Aide Turned Lobbyist As Director Of Benghazi Panel

In this June 18, 2013 file photo, House Judiciary Committee member Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., sponsor of the Strengthen and Fortify Enforcement Act, speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington.

Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-SC) on Thursday named Phil Kiko, a lobbyist and former Republican aide, as the majority staff director for the House select committee on Benghazi, which he chairs.

Since April 2013 Kiko has been vice chairman of the Smith-Free Group, a lobbying outfit in Washington D.C. Before that he worked in various GOP roles on Capitol Hill including as a legal counsel for the National Republican Congressional Committee and as chief of staff to the Republican-led Judiciary Committee under Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI).

“Phil brings with him years of experience serving in various capacities in the House and the Executive Branch, including top positions for three Committees,” Gowdy said in a statement. “He has a proven record of effective leadership and management, and I am pleased to have him on our team as we conduct a serious, fact-driven investigation to ensure our fellow Americans know the full truth about what happened in Benghazi.”

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  1. "I am pleased to have him on our team as we conduct a frivolous, fact-free investigation to ensure our fellow Americans know the full truth just how obsessed we are with our sole remaining talking point: How Obama and Hillary personally supervised the attack on Benghazi."
    

    (edited for accuracy)

  2. Wow. A lobbyist. Now someone tell me who didn’t see that coming. The STUPID PARTY Reps are all about making money off of their foolish voters.

  3. Since this farce is really just a fund-raising game for the GOP, it’s only appropriate they have a lobbyist serve as the Director of the panel.

  4. It’s Gowdy Doody time.

  5. Oh, good. The circus has a ringleader. We can all sleep soundly now knowing this is taken care of.

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