Via Katie Pavlich, I guess we’ve reached the point in the “phony scandal” messaging where they felt a bold signal needed to be sent. Even with Sean Smith’s grieving mother sitting right there at the witness table.

PHOTO: @OversightDems excuse themselves from testimony of #Benghazi heroes' family members #PJNet pic.twitter.com/NP9u2I2noC

— Darrell Issa (@DarrellIssa) September 19, 2013

Two Democrats stayed behind to listen, according to Issa. The others were gone.

I’m looking for a comprehensive round-up of today’s hearing for you but the best digest I’ve found so far is the Twitter feed of the Weekly Standard’s Stephen Hayes, who presumably has a story in the works about this. For now, though:

Authors of the "independent" #Benghazi investigation acknowledge that they regularly briefed Hillary Clinton & her advisers on their probe.

— Stephen Hayes (@stephenfhayes) September 19, 2013

Admiral Mullen, vice chair of #Benghazi probe, admits the panel didn't interview numerous relevant & high-ranking State/DoD officials.

— Stephen Hayes (@stephenfhayes) September 19, 2013

Pickering explains why they didn't swear in witnesses for ARB: "We had no reason to believe we would not get truthful testimony." #Benghazi

— Stephen Hayes (@stephenfhayes) September 19, 2013

The result, of course, was obstruction. Such is the state of the “phony scandal.” Via Mediaite, here’s Pat Smith recounting for the Oversight Committee what Hillary allegedly told her before the memorial service for her son last September. She’s made this accusation before but never in a setting as prominent as this.