WASHINGTON, D.C.–Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) said today that former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s private emails contain potentially damning correspondence between Clinton and a succession of Nigerian princes, bankers and philanthropists.  Gowdy is the chairman of a committee investigating Clinton’s role in or knowledge of a cover up of information related to terror attacks against the U.S. embassy in Benghazi, Libya in 2012.

“So far there hasn’t been any evidence of wrongdoing concerning Benghazi,” Gowdy said, “But our investigation has uncovered some potentially more harmful communications that raise some serious concerns.  Just why are so many Nigerian princes wanting to give Ms. Clinton millions of dollars?”

Gowdy also expressed his suspicions at the sheer number of princes in communication with Clinton, and added that he never even knew the country was a monarchy.  He said the emails raise questions about Clinton’s personal fortune as well as fundraising for her expected 2016 presidential campaign.

“These emails raise serious ethical concerns,” Gowdy asserted, “What sort of stakes does Nigeragua have in a Clinton presidency?  And if Nigerians are so poor, like most other African-Americans are, then why are they giving away all this money?  In U.S. dollars, no less!”

“Even more disturbing is the fact that every person communicating with Ms. Clinton addresses her as “Dear” or “Dearest”, terms of endearment that suggest close, intimate relationships,” Gowdy added.

Gowdy pointed out that there has been no evidence to indicate that Clinton ever responded to any of the emails, which leads him to believe that the former first lady possibly has a third email account through which she conducted government business.

“We’ve done some investigation into these benefactors,” he said, “And so far we’ve found no information on any of them.  It seems that they may be using fake names.  Which means they have something to hide.  Who knows how many email accounts we might eventually uncover?”