Fox News' Allen West Accuses GOP Of Aiding In Benghazi “Cover-Up”

Fox News contributor and former Congressman Allen West (R-FL) accused fellow Republicans of engaging in a “cover-up” of the attacks on U.S. diplomatic facilities in Benghazi, Libya, because they did not support a vote to form a special committee to investigate the attacks.

Rep. Steve Stockman (R-TX) has circulated a discharge petition that demands a vote on a bill that would appoint a congressional committee to investigate the September 11, 2012, attacks in Benghazi. The petition requires 218 votes to force the bill -- H. Res. 36-- to the floor over Speaker John Boehner's (R-OH) objections. On July 23, West spoke at a fringe group rally in support of the petition.

On the July 24 Fox & Friends, West expanded on his support, reasoning that a select committee was needed to investigate the Benghazi attacks to find out who ordered military personnel to “stand down” and not respond, ignoring the fact that such an order was never given.

He then asserted that those who did not support and sign the discharge petition were complicit in covering up the facts related to the Benghazi attack, saying: “Without a doubt, there has to be seen as a cover-up and everyone that is complicit in this to include the media and those not willing to sign the discharge petition or H. Res. 36.”

In lobbing this accusation, West smeared his former Republican colleagues, including Boehner and the author of H. Res 36, Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA). According to The Hill, Boehner “and other GOP leaders say current panels are doing a fine job with oversight on Benghazi,” while a spokeswoman for Wolfe said that he “appreciates any attention drawn to his bill, which drew two more co-sponsors this week, but would not sign on to the discharge petition forcing a floor vote over the objections of Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio).” Wolf had previously suggested that Boehner's not allowing for a vote on a select committee would be tantamount to his being involved in “cover-up” of the attack.

The House Oversight Committee, House Foreign Affairs Committee, House Permanent Select Committee On Intelligence, House Armed Services Committee, Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs and Senate Intelligence Committee have all held hearings and conducted investigations into the attacks in Benghazi, and more hearings are scheduled for coming months.

But it seems that at least six different investigations into the Benghazi attacks are not enough for Fox News contributor Allen West.