Republicans and conservative groups applauded the decision on Friday by House Speaker John Boehner to schedule a vote next week to create a select committee to investigate the 2012 Benghazi attacks that killed four Americans.
Boehner said the Obama administration misled the American people after the deadly attack that killed U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens, information management officer Sean Smith, and former SEALs Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods.
The Ohio Republican added that emails released this week show that the White House withheld documents from congressional investigators.
Here are some of the comments:
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Virginia:
"In the days after four Americans were killed by terrorists, President Obama's advisers orchestrated a campaign to deceive their fellow Americans as to what occurred, and we deserve to know why."
Sens. John McCain of Arizona, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, and Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire:
"We have called for a select committee since November 2012, and we are pleased that one will finally be established. The committees in both the Senate and the House that have held hearings have made an important contribution, but in light of the many remaining unanswered questions and the recent evidence that the administration has withheld critical information, it is clear that we need a select committee that can bring sustained focus across jurisdictions."
Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus:
"The American people want and deserve to know why the Obama White House and Democrats decided their political press strategy was more important than providing honest answers to the American people."
Rep. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee:
"President Obama and officials in his administration have repeatedly twisted the truth, withheld information, and obstructed our investigative efforts. This select committee is a necessary step to ensure the American people get the answers they deserve. The American people deserve to know the truth."
Rep. Louie Gohmert of Texas:
"With the new information received this week of emails that point to White House involvement in misleading the American people, it is more evident that action needs to be taken. This administration has repeatedly lied to the American public and tried to cover up policy mistakes with false rhetoric. It is time to unearth the truth from the rubble of lies."
Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona:
"It's ridiculous that we have to create a select committee in the first place, but the administration is more interested in covering their own a--es and protecting the president than telling the American people the truth."
Rep. Jeff Duncan of South Carolina:
"The American people have the right to know what happened before, during, and after the attacks on Benghazi, how they could have been prevented, and why the administration continued to mislead the public about the cause of the attack."
Rep. Bill Flores of Texas:
"It is my hope that, through the work of the select committee, we can finally put an end to this obstruction and get to the truth. Hard-working American families deserve nothing less — and they deserve a federal government that is honest and transparent."
Rep. Robert Hurt of Virginia:
"The American people and the victims’ families deserve answers to the questions that still surround the attack. It is our constitutional responsibility to ensure that this failure in defending Americans abroad does not happen again."
Tom Fitton, president of Judicial Watch:
"This is long overdue. Judicial Watch is pleased that its work uncovered the 'smoking gun' … email that led to this important step. Five House committees have failed for nearly two years to get to the bottom of the Benghazi mess and have been trifled with by a stonewalling administration."
Several legislators also expressed their support for the select committee via Twitter.
Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas:
Rep. Steve King of Iowa:
Rep. Bill Shuster of Pennsylvania:
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