The Republican-led House on Thursday voted to form a select committee to investigate the deadly Benghazi terror attack , elevating its oversight of an issue that has become a partisan flashpoint . Benghazi -- government cover-up or right-wing conspiracy theory ? A nearly party line vote of 232-186 established the panel despite investigations by multiple House committees that have reviewed documents , interviewed witnesses and held numerous hearings . The September 2012 armed assault on the U.S. diplomatic compound in eastern Libya killed four Americans , including Ambassador Christopher Stevens . Democrats were still deciding whether to participate in the committee , arguing its creation was a political ploy to keep the controversy in play during a midterm election year . More will be known about that as early as Friday . House Speaker John Boehner said new questions about the Obama administration 's handling of the matter now required the House `` to respond as one institution '' to arrive at the truth . But House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi said Republicans have exploited the tragedy , adding that the `` nation deserves better than yet another deeply partisan and political review . '' Hillary Clinton : No reason for new Benghazi committee . Boehner said the committee would have robust authority and its investigation `` will not be a partisan process . '' New information released last week . The Obama administration has come under fire over questions about the level of security before the armed assault , its reaction to it , and its slow-to-evolve public response . In moving ahead with the committee , Boehner said that `` a line was crossed in two places . '' First , he said documents unearthed by a conservative watchdog that surfaced last week raised questions about the administration 's explanation of events after the attack . He also said the administration defied a congressional subpoena to turn over information . There has been intense controversy over early statements linking the attack to a spontaneous protest over an anti-Muslim film produced in the United States that had sparked demonstrations elsewhere at the time . But it was soon revealed that it was a coordinated terror attack . Republicans allege the administration politicized its response in a presidential election year . The White House has said the new information cited by Boehner was broad-based and not specifically related to Benghazi . Will Democrats participate ? The question now centers on whether Democrats will sign on . As of now , they would get five of the 12 seats . But Democrats want more equity . Those issues center on membership as well as subpoenas and the questioning of witnesses . Borger : The biggest mistake Democrats could make on Benghazi . House Republicans are unlikely to bend to Democratic demands on the details of the committee , a GOP source familiar with the matter told CNN . But when pressed about whether Republicans would make changes to give Democrats more power in the investigation , Boehner would only say that `` there are further conversations continuing on that issue . '' Those talks were said to be intense . In addition to a possible boycott , CNN has learned that Democrats also are discussing another option -- minimal participation -- something short of an all-out boycott and less than the full contingent of Democrats . According to a Democratic leadership aide , this option would `` make clear they 're protesting , but also have full member participation to ensure that there are Democrats in the room to hold Republicans accountable for their behavior on the committee . Meeting on strategy . On Thursday , many House Democrats attended a weekly meeting to go over strategy for floor action on the issue . But Pelosi and other top Democrats were still weighing the pros and cons from their rank and file on the issue of participation . One aide told CNN that Democrats recognized they were unlikely to get changes they outlined in a letter to Boehner . But the aide said that `` the calculus on this is being weighed -- do we participate in a Darrell Issa-like committee or worse , or is it worth having someone in the room for it ? '' Issa is chairman of the House Oversight Committee , which has taken a leading role in the GOP-led investigation of Benghazi . His effort has been sharply criticized by Democrats . Rep. Steve Israel , who heads the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee , which is in charge of electing Democrats to the House this November , is arguing privately it would be a mistake to participate . He cited numerous reasons , including fear that independent voters fed up with Washington bickering would see Democrats as part of the problem . Fundraising off Benghazi . Separately , the controversy grew more intense this week over revelations that Republicans were using it for political fund-raising . Democrats contend that just underscores their belief that the select committee was politically driven . Boehner punted on the fund-raising question on Thursday , refusing to endorse or dismiss it . Despite multiple questions about whether it is right for Republicans to use the tragedy to raise political cash , all Boehner would say repeatedly is `` our focus is on getting the truth for the American people and these four families . '' Boehner already appointed South Carolina Rep. Trey Gowdy , a former prosecutor , to head the select committee . He said he would release the names of other Republican members in the near future . A GOP aide told CNN he expected the names to be released on Friday . Opinion : A guide to GOP 's Benghazi obsession .
House votes almost entirely on party lines to establish the panel . Democrats want the GOP-led panel to be evenly split with Republicans . But House Speaker John Boehner says the current plan for a 7-5 division was fair . Comment: