Autumn is not boding well for Trey Gowdy and the House Republicans on the Benghazi Committee. Starting with Kevin McCarthy’s not-so-startling admission of the Committee’s partisan motive, the fall has been filled with startling allegations, calls for disbandment, and capped off by an 11 hour public grilling of Hillary Clinton that further proved that the Committee is a political exercise aimed at damaging Clinton’s presidential campaign.
And although Gowdy and his fellow Republicans on the Benghazi Committee have done as much as possible to escape the negative fallout following Clinton’s knockout performance, including planning a taxpayer-funded field trip through Europe, the bad news just keeps rolling in. Yesterday, former Benghazi Committee investigator Maj. Bradley Podliska filed a federal lawsuit against Trey Gowdy, suing him for defamation of character. As Gowdy tries to cover the tracks of his partisan committee, he is getting tripped up in controversy that could spell major problems for both himself and his political sham of a committee.
MSNBC: Ex-Benghazi investigator sues Trey Gowdy for discrimination and defamation
“The suit says Gowdy conveyed to staff that he thought his Staff Director and Deputy ‘were incompetent,’ that senior Republican committee staffers regularly drank alcohol together in the ‘office during the workday,’ and that a nonpartisan security staff member deleted documents to avoid detection by Democratic committee members.”
The New Republic: The Benghazi Committee and Trey Gowdy may finally have their day in court, but it’ll be as defendants not prosecutors
“Mishandling classified information is a serious allegation, as Gowdy knows all to well after trying—and failing—to prove that Clinton is guilty of the same. Problem is, a staffer on Gowdy’s own committee has stated that Podliska did no such thing, and now Podliska is suing the committee and Gowdy himself for defamation.”
Washington Post: Former staffer sues Benghazi panel over firing
“The lawsuit, which calls for a jury trial, could reinvigorate the controversy that has surrounded the panel for months. Democrats have accused Gowdy of leading a probe focused on Clinton in an attempt to harm her 2016 presidential campaign and some Republicans have publicly acknowledged this is at least one aim if not the sole purpose of the committee’s work.”
Wall Street Journal: Former Benghazi Committee Staff Member Sues Rep. Trey Gowdy for Defamation
“A former staff member on the House Benghazi committee is suing the committee’s chairman for defamation, alleging he made false and reckless statements to the news media denigrating him.”
New York Times: Fired Investigator Sues House Benghazi Committee and Its Leader
“In his lawsuit, Mr. Podliska is requesting reinstatement as a committee investigator, and compensation for lost wages and other damages caused by his dismissal. He is also seeking ‘a permanent injunction barring Chairman Gowdy from repeating false, defamatory and injurious statements’ about him.[…] ‘Without such an injunction, Chairman Gowdy will likely continue to repeat the same false and defamatory statements,’ the suit said.”
Associated Press: Ex-Benghazi panel staffer files new claim against Gowdy
“Podliska says he was unlawfully fired in part because he sought to conduct a comprehensive probe into the 2012 attacks instead of focusing on Clinton and the State Department. He said the committee turned all of its attention to Clinton and the State Department after it was revealed in March that she used a private email account and server as secretary of state. The move de-emphasized other agencies involved with the attacks and their aftermath, Podliska said.”
The Hill: Former Benghazi panel staffer files suit against Chairman Gowdy
“He was ‘being singled out’ because of his military service and ‘because he was unwilling to along with the hyper-focus on the State Department and Secretary Clinton,’ Podliska claimed in his suit.”
Politico: Ex-staffer sues Gowdy and Benghazi panel
“The ex-GOP House Benghazi Committee investigator who accused the panel of conducting a partisan witch hunt against Hillary Clinton filed suit Monday against the committee and Chairman Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) for wrongful termination and defamation.”
Roll Call: Staffer Lawsuit Hits Benghazi Committee, Gowdy
“Podliska is requesting a jury trial to examine his claims of unlawful termination and defamation. The lawsuit claims the committee violated his rights under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994, which prohibits discrimination against someone based on their military service, and the Congressional Accountability Act.”
Slate: Benghazi Committee Whistleblower, a Republican, Is Suing Trey Gowdy for Defamation
“Podliska’s suit says the allegation about classified information is false and that committee staffers were in fact hostile toward him because 1) his work schedule was affected by his service obligations as an Air Force reservist and 2) he wanted to pursue the investigation of Benghazi-involved agencies and actors besides Hillary Clinton and the State Department.”
The Week: Former House Benghazi Committee investigator sues Chairman Trey Gowdy
“In an unusual move, Podliska isn’t seeking money in damages, but rather confirmation from the court that Gowdy’s allegation is false.”