Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.) filed a complaint against two of his fellow congressmen on Wednesday. Grayson is accusing them of using the House Benghazi investigation simply to thwart Hillary Clinton, according to United Press International.
Grayson's ethics complaint accuses Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) of purposefully using the investigation against Clinton, who served as secretary of state during the Benghazi attack in 2012.
Recently, McCarthy suggested in an interview that the investigation was, in fact, used to lower Clinton's poll numbers. "Everybody thought Hillary Clinton was unbeatable, right? We put together a Benghazi special committee, a select committee. What are her numbers today? Her numbers are dropping," he said. McCarthy later clarified his comments, saying the investigation was not political in nature.
Democrats in the House brought the investigation to a vote on Wednesday, calling for the select committee to be disbanded. Republicans voted to table the issue, winning 240 to 183, according to CNN. The House investigation has lasted 17 months and has cost the federal government $4.6 million.
"Representative Kevin McCarthy and Trey Gowdy have violated federal law and House rules by using funds appropriated to the Select Committee on Benghazi to oppose the presidential candidacy of Hillary Clinton," Grayson's complaint says, according to The Tampa Bay Times.
