Rep. Gowdy: Benghazi committee will probe every document to determine facts 'once and for all'

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Gowdy: The murder of 4 Americans should transcend politics

Newly-named chair of Congressional select committee on Benghazi says he wants to see 'every solitary, single document' related to the deadly terror attack

Rep. Trey Gowdy, the newly-appointed chairman of a House select committee to investigate Benghazi, told Fox News’ Greta Van Susteren Monday that he is going to examine “every single solitary, relevant” document on Benghazi so the truth about the attacks can be determined once and for all.

Gowdy, R-S.C., said on “On the Record” he is going to examine any and all documents relating to the 2012 attack on the U.S. consulate, even those which may end up not even being relevant.

“You can’t draw conclusions if you don’t have all the facts,” Gowdy, a former federal prosecutor, said. “What this committee is going to do is once and for all lay out all the facts and then your jury can draw whatever inferences and conclusions they want to.”

Gowdy said he is “not interested” in summaries of the facts and wants access to all relevant documents, classified or not.

Gowdy also responded to criticism of the committee by House Democrats including Rep. Mike Schiff, who said on “Fox News Sunday” he believes the committee is a “colossal waste of time.” Gowdy said the committee’s detractors need to give it a chance to prove its usefulness before declaring it pointless.

“At least let us have a hearing before you judge it. I mean at least let the committee be constituted and the rules be adopted before you declare it to be a political exercise,” he said.

Gowdy said he is not surprised Democrats are critical of the committee, saying he could cure malaria and still be bashed by the other side because he is a Republican.

House Speaker John Boehner announced Friday he would call a House vote on forming a select committee to probe the attacks, and named Gowdy to lead it Monday. Boehner had long resisted calls for such a probe, but reversed course after newly released emails raised questions about the White House role in shaping the administration's public narrative after the attack.

Gowdy is a second-term lawmaker, a former district attorney and federal prosecutor, and a member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. He is known for his aggressive style of questioning at congressional hearings

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va. said on his official Twitter account Monday night that there will be a vote on a measure to form the Benghazi committee this week.