Former investigator files suit against House Benghazi chairman Trey Gowdy for defamation of character.

Courtesy of MSNBC:

A former investigator for the House Benghazi Committee filed a federal lawsuit against the committee Monday, opening a new chapter in legal skirmishes over the Benghazi attacks and subsequent investigations. 

Last month, Brad Podliska, an Air Force Reserve major, alleged the Benghazi committee terminated him based on his military obligations and his refusal to advance an agenda targeting Hillary Clinton. Now, Podliska is detailing those charges in court in a new filing that alleges Committee Chairman Trey Gowdy broke the law by defaming him in their public battle over Podliska’s firing. 

Gowdy previously said Podliska was terminated partly for mishandling classified information. 

The suit cites Gowdy’s claim from a press release and an interview with NBC News, and argues it was a damaging line of attack, since allegations of such a “serious crime” have “ended the careers of many professionals in national security-related industries.”

As many of you no doubt remember Podliska claimed he was fired because: 

“The Committee’s investigation had changed to focus on Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the State Department,” the complaint states, “and deemphasize the other agencies that were involved in the Benghazi attacks,” which was Podliska’s initial assignment. He found staff leadership viewed him as “naïve” for taking an “objective, professional” approach to the investigation, the complaint states, when the predetermined goal was actually to “target” Sec. Clinton. Podliska argues that agenda contributed to his firing.

Well this is certainly not going to help the Benghazi committee shake its reputation as a tool for a partisan witch hunt against Hillary.

Bummer.