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Boehner: No Comment on NRCC Fundraising on Benghazi (Updated) (Video)

Boehner refuses to weigh-in on GOP fundraising efforts tied in to the House's investigation of the 2012 attack in Benghazi. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)
Boehner refuses to weigh-in on GOP fundraising efforts tied in to the House's investigation of the 2012 attack in Benghazi. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Updated, 1:04 p.m. |  Speaker John A. Boehner of Ohio refused to answer whether it is appropriate that Republicans are fundraising off of their efforts to empanel a special committee to investigate the 2012 attack on an American consulate in Benghazi, Libya.  

When asked three times at his weekly press conference Thursday about the National Republican Congressional Committee’s fundraising solicitations, Boehner demurred, each time skirting the question by giving a variation of the following:  

“Our focus is on getting the answers to those families who lost their loved ones. Period,” he said.  

The NRCC’s fundraising pleas and the fact that the panel will be stacked with seven Republicans and five Democrats has given Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., pause about appointing members of her party to the committee to rebut the GOP. Pelosi expressed those concerns on a phone call with Boehner on Wednesday. On Friday, Democrats will meet to decide whether to fill their five slots on the panel. The same day, Republicans are expected to appoint their members.  

Boehner said he thinks the 7-5 split is fair, and said he told the same to Pelosi on their Wednesday phone call.  

“I had a conversation with the minority leader yesterday and made clear that this is a serious investigation, that we wanted to work together to get to the truth,” he said. “This is a serious effort to get to the truth and I would hope that my colleagues across the aisle would see it the same way I do and appoint members.”  

Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Steve Israel issued a statement Thursday condemning Boehner and the NRCC.  

“Fundraising off the Benghazi tragedy is despicable and insulting and has no place in the national conversation,” he said. “Speaker Boehner and Chairman Walden should immediately take down their BenghaziWatchdogs.com website and stop insulting the memory of the brave Americans who were lost there.”  

Related stories:

Benghazi Panel Will Have 7 Republicans, 5 Democrats


Benghazi Committee: Democrats Warn Boehner About Partisan Makeup


Reid Says There Will Be No Senate Committee to Investigate Benghazi (Video)

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