Illinois Rep. Tammy Duckworth, an Iraq War veteran, was among five Democrats named Wednesday to serve on a Republican-led committee to investigate the 2012 attack on a U.S. consulate in Benghazi.
Duckworth joins Maryland Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland, Washington's Adam Smith, California's Adam Schiff and Linda Sanchez and seven Republicans, NBC News reports. Duckworth and the other Democrats were named by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.
"I could have argued this either way," Pelosi said. "Why give any validity to this effort? But I do think it is important for the American people to have a pursuit of these questions done in as fair and open and balanced a way as possible."
House Republicans approved a resolution earlier this month to create the committee, with House Speaker John Boehner promising an "eminently fair" probe into what happened.
Duckworth recently made news by commenting on allegations that VA hospitals, possibly including Hines VA hospital near suburban Maywood, manipulated wait list lines.
"I choose to go to Hines for my primary care instead of going to a civilian doctor somewhere," Duckworth said, "but I have to tell you, when you have a hospital network that large, we have to look at the compensation system."
Duckworth unseated Joe Walsh in the 8th Congressional District after a single term.
