The Republican head of the congressional investigation into the Benghazi attack said on Sunday he is not targeting Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton and such talk hurts the inquiry.

Clinton was secretary of state in September 2012 when U.S. facilities in Benghazi, Libya, were attacked, killing four Americans, including U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens.

Democrats have said the Republican-controlled committee is more interested in damaging Clinton's reputation than uncovering the truth about that deadly night.