KUSI Political Analyst John Dadian on Benghazi hearings
Channel: DadianAssociates
Date: 2014-05-22

"The public is clearly very interested. The polls show the public now is focused on Benghazi, and they weren't on previous hearings," said political analyst John Dadian.

Dadian says congressional investigations into Benghazi scandals are all being frustrated as partisan fighting reaches new highs and government sinks to new lows.

"I hate to compare to one of the most famous scandals in history, but Watergate took almost two years from when the first story was written to when the president finally resigned. Sometimes, it moves slow, but it kept mounting and mounting until it reached a point that there was a crescendo. I think that is what you're going to see in Benghazi."

More than a year and a half since the images of the U.S. Consulate in Libya on fire burned into the collective consciousness, with four Americans - including Ambassador J. Christopher Stephens and two Navy Seals from San Diego - killed by terrorists, Congress is still fighting with itself and the President's Cabinet. Wednesday, House minority leader Nancy Pilosi announced she is appointing the full allotment of five Democrats to the House Select Committee investigating the incident. But this was no show of support.

"We had hoped for a level of fairness and transparency and balance - especially considering the subject matter. We were not able to reach any agreement. Regrettably, the Republican approach will not prevent the unacceptable and repeated abuses committed by Chairman Issa in any meaningful way. That is all the more reason for Democrats to participate in the committee - to be there to fight for fair hearing and process."

The announcement comes after weeks of meetings with Republican leadership - efforts to get Committee Chairman Darrell Issa removed. Democrats continue to insist that the very existence of the committee is political grandstanding. Republicans continue to insist Democrats' refusal to cooperate with the investigation is political stonewalling. Wednesday, the State Department said Secretary John Kerry will not answer a subpoena to appear before the House Oversight Committee.

Committee Chairman Issa sent a scathing letter to Kerry, writing "this disregard for the rule of law is even more disturbing, considering your agency's role in encouraging governments throughout the world to respect the rule of law."