Gowdy Names Phil Kiko as Staff Director for Benghazi Committee (Video)
House Democrats still haven’t named members to the Select Committee on Benghazi, but Rep. Trey Gowdy, the appointed chairman of the panel that boasts a full slate of Republicans, is staffing up.
On Thursday afternoon, the South Carolina Republican announced that Phil Kiko would come on board as majority staff director.
“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.”
According to Gowdy’s announcement, Kiko has served stints as the staff director and general counsel for the Committee on House Administration, general counsel and chief of staff for the House Judiciary Committee, deputy chief of staff for the House Science Committee and chief of staff for Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, R-Wis.
He held posts with the Interior and Education Departments, according to Kiko’s bio page on the Smith-Free website, and began his career at the National Republican Campaign Committee. The NRCC is currently battling accusations from Democrats that it is fundraising off of the GOP-lead investigation into the Benghazi attacks.
Shortly after Gowdy revealed the news, Speaker John A. Boehner, R-Ohio, chimed in.
“Phil Kiko is a man of unquestioned integrity with a record of distinguished service to the House and the American people. His appointment today is further proof of Chairman Gowdy’s commitment to an investigation that is serious, fact-based, and professional. The American people deserve the full truth about what happened in Benghazi on September 11, 2012, and there is no better person to help lead this effort than Phil.”
