Democrats: Benghazi chairman ignores statement by GOP lawyer

In this photo provided by the U.S. Army, Lt. Gen. Dana Chipman. Democrats on the House Benghazi panel are insisting that the military did what it could in response to the deadly twin attacks on Sept. 11, 2012, in Libya despite lingering questions about whether U.S. forces could have gotten to there in time to save lives. (U.S. Army via AP) (The Associated Press)

This undated photo provided by the U.S. Army shows retired Lt. Gen. Dana Chipman. The House Benghazi committee's Republican chairman is ignoring statements by his own former lawyer indicating that the U.S. military acted properly on the night of the deadly Sept. 11, 2012, attacks in Libya, the panel's Democrats said. Reps. Elijah Cummings, D-MD, and Adam Smith, D-WA, cite comments by retired Army Lt. Gen. Chipman, who served as chief counsel for Republicans on the Benghazi panel from August 2014 until last January. Chipman "repeatedly commended the military's actions on the night of the attacks during closed interviews with Defense Department officials," Cummings and Smith wrote. (U.S. Army via AP) (The Associated Press)

FILE - In this Jan. 27, 2015 file photo, House Benghazi Committee Chairman Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., left, confers with the committee's ranking member Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., during the committee's hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington. Democrats on the House Benghazi panel are insisting that the military did what it could in response to the deadly twin attacks on Sept. 11, 2012, in Libya despite lingering questions about whether U.S. forces could have gotten to there in time to save lives. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) (The Associated Press)

Democrats on the House Benghazi committee say the panel's Republican chairman is ignoring statements by his own former lawyer indicating that the U.S. military acted properly on the night of the deadly 2012 attacks in Benghazi, Libya.

Democratic congressmen Elijah Cummings and Adam Smith say Republican congressman Trey Gowdy omitted the lawyer's comments when he fired back at the Defense Department for criticizing the GOP-led investigation into the attacks.

Cummings and Smith say in a letter that Gowdy's actions, coupled with delays that have pushed the 2-year-old inquiry into the heat of the 2016 presidential race, "have damaged the credibility of the Select Committee beyond repair." The Associated Press obtained a copy of the letter sent Sunday.

The letter is the latest volley in a dispute over the Benghazi investigation.