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Democrats urge Gowdy to release Clinton confidant transcript

House Select Committee on Benghazi Chairman Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, June 16, 2015, before the start of a deposition of Sidney Blumenthal, a longtime confidant to former President Bill Clinton and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton. Gowdy complained Tuesday that his committee should have received emails between Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton and a longtime Clinton confidant long ago. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) House Select Committee on Benghazi Chairman Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, June 16, 2015, before the start of a deposition of Sidney Blumenthal, a longtime confidant to former President Bill Clinton and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton. Gowdy complained Tuesday that his committee should have received emails between Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton and a longtime Clinton confidant long ago. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

By Associated Press June 17, 2015 1 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) – Democrats on a House panel investigating the deadly attacks in Benghazi, Libya, are calling for the release of a deposition transcript of a longtime confidant of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton.

The Democrats say the Republican-led panel should release the transcript of Tuesday’s testimony by Clinton friend Sidney Blumenthal, along with emails he sent to Clinton while she served as secretary of state.

Democrats sent a letter to the panel’s chairman, Rep. Trey Gowdy of South Carolina, saying the transcript of Blumenthal’s testimony will provide “important background and context to his emails.” The Associated Press obtained a copy of the letter.

Gowdy said Tuesday he has not decided whether to release the transcript. Blumenthal spent nearly nine hours Tuesday in a closed session with the panel.