Hanna: Benghazi committee 'designed' to attack Clinton

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15 (UPI) -- A week before Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton is set to testify before the House Select Committee on Benghazi, a second House Republican said the investigation is "designed" to target Clinton and discredit her campaign.

Rep. Richard Hanna, R-N.Y., said Wednesday House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy was speaking truthfully when he said the purpose of the committee is to attack Clinton and drive down her poll numbers.

"Sometimes the biggest sin you can commit in D.C. is to tell the truth," Hanna told WIBX950 radio station, based in New York. "This may not be politically correct, but I think that there was a big part of this investigation that was designed to go after people and an individual, Hillary Clinton.

"After what Kevin McCarthy said, it's difficult to accept at least a part of it was not," Hanna said. "I think that's the way Washington works. But you'd like to expect more from a committee that's spent millions of dollars and tons of time."

The Clinton campaign responded to the comments, saying the former secretary of state would still testify in front of the committee next week, but "the inquiry has zero credibility left."

"House Republicans aren't even shy anymore about admitting that the Benghazi Committee is a partisan farce," Clinton campaign spokesman Brian Fallon said in a statement. "After failing to produce any new information on the tragic 2012 attacks at Benghazi despite a 17-month investigation, John Boehner has reportedly urged the committee to shift its focus to Hillary Clinton's emails in an ongoing effort to try to hurt her politically. Hillary Clinton will still attend next week's hearing, but at this point, Trey Gowdy's inquiry has zero credibility left."

Republican leadership remains adament the sole purpose of the committee, led by Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C. is to investigate security near and around the U.S. consulate in Libya leading up to the attack that left four Americans dead.