Secretary of State John Kerry will testify before the House Oversight Committee about the 2012 attack in Benghazi, Libya next month.
The panel, which has been investigating the incident where four Americans were killed, had wanted Kerry to appear May 29. But because of prior commitments, he will appear next month.
“Today, the State Department informed the Oversight Committee that Secretary of State Kerry will testify in person but asked for a postponement,” said a statement from committee spokesman Frederick Hill.
“As the State Department has moved away from pushing the Committee to accept an alternative witness, Chairman Issa (Darrell Issa, R-Calif.) accepted the Secretary’s offer to testify on June 12. The Committee looks forward to his appearance.”
A State Department letter obtained by the Associated Press said that if Kerry testifies, that should remove the need for him to appear before the special House committee set up earlier this month to probe the Benghazi attack.
Democrats have assailed the special committee, saying it was little more than a witch hunt. Among the criticisms: That it is a vehicle for Republicans, who have a 7 to 5 majority, to spotlight the role of then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, a potential 2016 Democratic presidential contender.