WASHINGTON - Democrats are criticizing House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy for his comments crediting the House's Benghazi investigation committee with hurting Hillary Rodham Clinton's poll numbers.

Democrats said McCarthy's comments in a Fox News Channel interview contradict claims by GOP leaders that the panel is merely seeking the truth about the deadly 2012 attacks at a U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya.

McCarthy, a California Republican, is considered likely to become House speaker following John Boehner's surprise resignation last week.

A spokesman for House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi said McCarthy's comments show that Republicans "were never interested in a bipartisan investigation to improve the security of Americans abroad."

Democratic Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland called it "shameful" that Republicans have "used the tragedy... for political gain."