here's nancy cordes. >> reporter: podliska's claims are another blow to the house benghazi investigation, but republicans say he's lying. the air force reservist says he was fired as an investigator for the committee because he refused to focus solely on former secretary of state hillary clinton and her e-mails. >> this has become a partisan investigation. i honestly do not believe this investigation was set up to go after hillary. i believe it shifted that way. >> reporter: but republican trey gowdy who chairs the committee said podliska was terminated in part because he himself manifested improper partiality against clinton. he says podliska's accusations came only after he demanded money from the committee in mediation, and the committee refused to pay. democrats say it is more proof that the committee's chief goal is to destroy the likely democratic nominee. they say the house majority leader all but confirmed it when he said this: >> everybody thought hillary clinton was unbeatable, right?