Hugh Hewitt Dismisses Republican Admissions That Benghazi Committee Is Targeting Hillary Clinton

Written by Media Matters Staff

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Conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt rejected recent disclosures of the partisan role of the House Select Committee on Benghazi, despite several Republican figures admitting the committee has been focused on targeting Hillary Clinton. In September, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy boasted the committee had intended to and succeeded at hurting Clinton's poll numbers. Since then, a former staffer for the committee, Bradley F. Podliska, and a second Republican congressman, Rep. Richard Hanna (R-NY), have also admitted the committee was “designed to go after” Clinton. While appearing on CNN, Hewitt, who will participate as a panelist at the next two CNN Republican debates, rejected the recent admissions, stating Hanna was “completely wrong and out of line” and McCarthy “actually has been manipulated ... by what he said.” From the October 14 edition of CNN Tonight with Don Lemon:

DON LEMON: This is new and I want you to respond to it as a radio guy. You mentioned Kevin McCarthy just a couple of seconds ago. Another House Republican tonight, Representative Richard Hanna, reportedly told a radio station that McCarthy was right and that, “this may not be politically correct but I think that there was a big part of this investigation that was designed to go after people and an individual, Hillary Clinton.” That's a direct quote. What do you make of that?

HUGH HEWITT: Happy to respond to that. I think he's completely wrong and out of line. I know Mike Pompeo, one of the representatives, a West Point graduate, Harvard Law graduate. I know Trey Gowdy, elected prosecutor, one of the most ethical men. I don't know Susan Brooks, I know she was a United States attorney, which meant she was confirmed by Congress. I know Pete Roskam, who's a member of the committee, is one of the most revered and respected members in the United States House of Representatives. They are doing this because of the national interest, because four Americans were killed in Benghazi and I do not forget Ambassador Stevens, Sean Smith, Ty Woods or Glen Doherty. And I don't have their names in front of them. I don't forget them. And I do not believe for a moment that this committee has anything to do with politics. It's about why were they killed that night? Why did Hillary Clinton fail to have them protected? Why did she lie to the widows and the survivors about the video? When is she going to tell the truth? We'll find out on October 22.

LEMON: Why are Republicans coming out though, at least two of them now, saying that it was politically motivated though Hugh?

HEWITT: Kevin McCarthy did not say it was politically motivated. Kevin McCarthy actually has been manipulated well by what he said. I don't know Mr. Hanna. I've never heard of him. I don't know what district he's from. I know there's a parabola, there's a bell curve of intelligence in every group --

LEMON: There's also the former intelligence officer who spoke with Jake Tapper as well.

HEWITT: Well, that's a different issue. That's a question of whether or not he was fired for different reasons, but I don't want to conflate the two things. Mr. Hanna, I'll be happy to have him on the show and talk to him about it and I'll be happy to talk to the whistleblower. I told Jake I've got to read his complaint before I know whether it's the standard 'I got fired, let me gin up a couple of reasons that I should be paid some money,' or if there's a legitimate issue there. But I'll say this, those prosecutors I just named, I've had them on many times, especially Mike Pompeo. They are interested in no dramatics, no theater.