Pentagon Promises Probe Into Niger Ambush As McCain Threatens Subpoena Over Administration Inaction

Politico reports:

In the face of growing scrutiny, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on Thursday said the type of attack that killed four U.S. troops in Niger earlier this month was “considered unlikely” and pledged to release the findings of a Pentagon investigation “as rapidly” as possible.

“I would just tell you that in this specific case contact was considered unlikely,” Mattis said of the ambush against members of the Army’s 3rd Special Forces Group, which is advising local anti-terror units in the region.

Mattis’ remarks come as the White House and Pentagon are taking heat from Senate Armed Services Chairman Sen. John McCain, who threatened early Thursday to issue subpoenas to get more information on the Oct. 4 incident, which has been blamed on militants allied with the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

McCain has slammed the Trump administration in recent days for not being forthcoming about the ambush, and asked again Thursday if the administration is sharing enough, he responded, “Of course not.”