Democrats on Benghazi panel say partisan politics behind Republican subpoena of Clinton emails

WASHINGTON – Democrats on the House committee investigating the attack on the U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi attack are asking the panel’s Republican chairman to withdraw a subpoena for Hillary Clinton’s emails.

Democrats say in a letter Friday that the subpoena shows the panel has taken a “very partisan and political turn.” The issue has turned into a controversy over Clinton’s use of a personal email server while serving as Secretary of State.

Republicans have long criticized Clinton’s handling of the deadly 2012 attack and its aftermath.

The chairman is Republican Trey Gowdy. Democrats say Gowdy should immediately publish the emails in their entirety to “help clear up any misperceptions.” They say the committee should return to investigating the Benghazi attack instead of being “a surrogate for the Republican National Committee.”