Dem: The Benghazi Panel Just Wants To ‘Disrupt, Destroy’ Clinton’s Campaign

House Benghazi Committee Chairman Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., left, watches as the committee's ranking member Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., questions Democratic presidential candidate, former Secretary of State Hillary R... House Benghazi Committee Chairman Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., left, watches as the committee's ranking member Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., questions Democratic presidential candidate, former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, during the committee’s hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015. After months of buildup, Hillary Rodham Clinton finally takes center stage as the star witness in the Republican-led investigation into the deadly 2012 attacks in Benghazi, Libya. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) MORE LESS

Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) said Thursday that the GOP-led Benghazi committee wanted to “disrupt” and “destroy” Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s campaign.

Cummings, who serves on the House Benghazi Committee, questioned Clinton as part of an interrogation that was expected to last eight hours or longer.

But in an interview with CNN during a break in the testimony, Cummings said the morning’s questioning of Clinton had made it clear that the committee was politically motivated. Some, including Republicans, have said as much publicly, although the chairman of the committee, Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-SC) has repeatedly disputed that.

“I wish I could accept the fact that conclusions were not already made before we even got started. They were made,” Cummings said. “And this has been a constant drum beat to disrupt, destroy the campaign of Hillary Clinton. It took me a long time to get there. It’s a painful conclusion to come to.”

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  1. Can you imagine how many people–public or otherwise–could survive a scrutiny of their private email? The fact that they HAVE HER EMAIL(!!!) and have NOTHING damaging is beyond amazing.

  2. Cummings is spot on—and I hope he does announce for the Senate to replace the retiring Barbara Mikulski.
    He’d be the odds-on favorite instantly.

    It’s hilarious how Gowdy, Roskam, and the rest of the GOP Bozo Brigade keep acting as though Hillary used her email account to conduct all her business as SoS.

    She didn’t even keep a computer in her office. She had meetings, memos, CIA daily briefings, and other typical methods of conducting government business.

    But the GOP Inquisition is all about trying to trip her up and destroy her candidacy by referring to the emails and nothing else. Gowdy’s rude and condescending behavior will backfire almost immediately, because Americans don’t like to see people treated badly by representatives of the government.
    And in most real hearings, the questions are asked by the special counsel for each side—not by members who grandstand and preen and posture in hopes of creating a soundbite for the evening news.

    Gowdy is a boob, and the hearing is a farce.

  3. I love Cummings. I agree…he should run for Senate.

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