With Congressman Jason Chaffetz on his way out, the Republican Steering Committee selected their new chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on Thursday: Rep. Trey Gowdy.
Chaffetz is expected to serve his final day in Congress on June 30 before heading off to his TV debut on Fox News, and will need a Republican just as annoying to replace him. By that account, Gowdy is the perfect choice.
Gowdy, a South Carolina Congressman, is most famous for his shark-like interrogation of Hillary Clinton during the Benghazi hearings. Liberals will remember him for endlessly dogging the former Secretary of State with needlessly partisan, pointless questioning.
The Gowdy-led probe was one of the longest in American history, and the results amounted to zilch. Still, thanks to that hearing and Gowdy’s prominent role in it, he had been tapped as a possible FBI director and now, the leader of the House Oversight Committee.
In his new position, Gowdy will be able to be just as insufferable as he was in the hearing against Clinton.
For those unhappy to see the Congressman promoted, there is one silver lining: he may be completely miserable to take the position. According to an interview with the Rolling Stones in January of 2016, Gowdy was not only dissatisfied with his role in the Benghazi hearings, but regrets becoming a Congressman altogether. Ultimately, Gowdy would like to be a federal judge – or get out of politics altogether. A position overseeing the House is neither of those things.
Gowdy already drew his name from consideration for Trump’s new FBI Director (a role he was woefully under-qualified for) – might he do the same for this new nomination? Rep. Steve Russell of Oklahoma is poised and ready to take the seat if Gowdy declines the position.
Though Gowdy has been tapped for the position, his appointment is not guaranteed. To become House Oversight Chairman, Gowdy must first be confirmed by the full Republican Conference.
