House Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA) said Friday that he will subpoena Ambassador Thomas Pickering over the investigation into last year’s deadly attack in Benghazi, Libya, according to multiple reports.
Along with former Joint Chiefs Chairman Mike Mullen, Pickering led the independent review of the attack. The two men sent a letter to Issa on Thursday in which they agreed to testify before the committee in public but declined to meet privately with lawmakers before the testimony.
“In our view, requiring such a closed-door proceeding before we testify publicly is an inappropriate precondition,” they wrote.
On Friday, Issa responded with a letter of his own, expressing disappointment at Pickering’s refusal to meet behind-closed-doors.
“In light of your continuing refusal to appear voluntarily for a transcribed interview, however, I have found it necessary to issue a subpoena to compel your appearance at a deposition,” Issa wrote, according to Government Executive.
Pickering’s private deposition is scheduled to be held at 10:00 a.m. ET on May 23. He told Government Executive that he hadn’t heard about the subpoena yet.
This post has been updated.
