Washington (CNN) House Democrats, sensing they have put Republicans on the defense over charges the Benghazi select committee is driven by politics against Hillary Clinton, forced a vote on the issue on the House floor on Wednesday.

Rep Louise Slaughter, D-New York, offered a resolution calling on the House to disband the select committee, but it was quickly ruled out of order. Democrats then appealed the ruling, but Republicans voted to table that effort, 240-183.

Democrats knew they didn't have the votes to shut down the committee, but the move was more about making a political point over the future of the committee. Democrats have seized on House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy's comment last week touting the committee's role in hurting Clinton's poll numbers as evidence the Benghazi panel has outlived its purpose.

Earlier Wednesday, Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Florida, filed an ethics complaint against House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy accusing the No. 2 Republican of using taxpayer dollars to make political attacks against the former secretary of state.

Clinton launched an ad this week homing in on McCarthy's comments as an opportunity to beat back against the barrage of GOP criticisms she has faced over her handling of the Benghazi attacks and to gird herself against the politically perilous hearing she will face later this month before the committee.

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