Benghazi panel subpoenas Pentagon official, has 'serious questions'

Republicans on the House Select Committee on Benghazi announced Friday they have issued a subpoena for a Pentagon official who claimed in late April that he was unable to locate a witness who had been an active-duty member of the Air Force all along.

Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., who chairs the committee, said the subpoena would force the Pentagon official to explain whether the long delay in gaining access to the witness was an attempt by the military to cover up his testimony.

"This Pentagon political appointee claimed in an official letter to the committee the Department of Defense could not find a requested witness, despite expending 'significant resources' searching for him," Gowdy said of Stephen Hedger, who wrote in an April 28 letter that the Benghazi committee was placing an undue burden on the Pentagon with its deluge of requests.

"This witness is still on active duty and confirmed Thursday the Air Force knew exactly who he was – a drone sensor operator who was operating over Benghazi on the night of the attacks," said Gowdy.

Hedger had chastised committee Republicans for requesting an interview with a radio caller known as "John from Iowa" who had dialed in to a station in 2013 and claimed to be a drone sensor operator on the night of the Benghazi attack. Hedger argued the request was unnecessary and that the caller could not be located after a significant Pentagon effort.