Hillary Clinton: No reason for new Benghazi committee, but GOP ‘calls the shots’ in the House
Updated 6:47 p.m. ET, 5/7/2014
New York (CNN) – Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Wednesday that she is "absolutely" satisfied with what she knows about the Benghazi terror attack, and cast doubt on the intentions of House Republicans spearheading a select committee to investigate it.
"I mean of course there are a lot of reasons why, despite all of the hearings, all of the information that’s been provided, some choose not to be satisfied and choose to continue to move forward," Clinton said in an appearance in New York.
[twitter-follow screen_name='politicalticker'][twitter-follow screen_name='danmericacnn']
"That’s their choice and I do not believe there is any reason for it to continue in this way, but they get to call the shots in the Congress," she said.
The remarks were her first public comments on the formation of a select committee to investigate the September 11, 2012, terror attack on the U.S. diplomatic compound in eastern Libya that killed four Americans, including Ambassador Christopher Stevens.
Benghazi has become a partisan flashpoint over President Barack Obama’s conduct of foreign policy and is likely to dog Clinton as she considers launching another White House run.
Republicans have held her culpable since she led the State Department at the time, and some have said the attack should disqualify her from holding elected office.
At multiple events this year, Clinton has said Benghazi was her "biggest regret" from her tenure as America’s top diplomat.
"It was a terrible tragedy losing four Americans, two diplomats and now it is public so I can say two CIA operatives," she said previously in New Orleans.
A Senate report earlier this year said the attack was "likely preventable" based on known security shortfalls and prior warnings that the security situation there was deteriorating.
The decision to launch a new investigation follows the disclosure of information last week that Republicans say supports their contention the White House politicized its public response to the armed assault.
Democrats have bristled at the formation of a select committee since other congressional panels have been investigating the matter since it occurred. They counter that Republicans have politicized the investigation.
"My biggest regret is what happened in Benghazi," Clinton said in New Orleans. "It was a terrible tragedy losing four Americans, two diplomats and now it is public so I can say two CIA operatives."
From CNN Politics
- READ: Trump lawyer's full memo on plan for Pence to overturn the election
- Biden holds first call with French President Macron since diplomatic crisis erupted September 22, 2021 07:52 pm
- Bipartisan policing talks officially end September 22, 2021 07:39 pm
- Democratic leaders, moderates and progressives headed to the White House at critical moment for the Biden agenda September 22, 2021 07:32 pm
- Pentagon set to announce plan to implement sexual assault commission recommendations September 22, 2021 07:15 pm
- Kamala Harris raises 'grave concerns' over treatment of Haitian migrants in call with DHS chief September 22, 2021 06:58 pm
I don't give darn hoot at Benghazi since it is political garbage from GOP idiots. Pass JOBS BILL, THEN TALK.
"The decision to launch a new investigation follows the disclosure of information last week that Republicans say supports their contention the White House politicized its public response to the armed assault."
The decision to launch a new investigation follows the disclosure of one sentence in one email last week that Republicans say proves all of their accusations.
FIFY
Only in America can you be arrested for kicking a dog but it's perfectly OK to kill an unborn child. Can someone please explain the logic in that to me?
Good, we'll look forward to your question/answer period.
Of course she doesn't want to appear and testify again because she is going to be exposed for helping fuel the false story about the Internet film.
i am curious is the repubs searching for some kind of criminal activity by this government, or they still want to throw pissy fits because they couldnt use the benghazi incident to win the election in 2012, so i guest they will try it again in 2014. its amazing that the american people are cool with all the atrocities the right have caused from the bush years. the 15 benghazies that no one not even think about any, the wars that killed thousands of americans and cost trillions of dollars. they are only focus on benghazi for the past 2 and half year which only cost 4 lives. and zero dollars, i am not saying that this is not important, but come on, its been a hoard of investigations already, and no evidence of wrong doing. i wonder what the families of the bush years benghazies thinking right now. i wonder if they think the US government give a hoot about their
Funny, she should not be allowed to hold office, but those same Republicans saying this were the ones who cut security funding to the embassies that could have stopped the attack. Can we now investigate everyone who voted to cut security? And when it is discovered that they did, can they be forced to resign. Not really a question, more a statement. When everything you have accomplished is bad to the extent of being evil you have to blame someone else. Sympathy for the devil.
Of course there's no reason, Hillary. Anything to protect yourself and your party from further damage at the expense of a few families. You're a disgrace to the nation.
Of course this would be her take. She's one of those possibly liable for dereliction of duty. Let the honest investigation proceed; it is almost two years overdue. The last hearings were a sham, and the White House has been stonewalling forever, it seems. OF COURSE they put politics ahead of security and lives and the truth. The evidence is there, in spite of their best efforts (and those of the shielding "press"). It isn't high rocket science.
The Nazis did not think Nuremburg was necessary either. This is the most corrupt administration in my lifetime
She needs to be in PRISON !
Yeah right!! Maybe had she been honest about what was going on....Enjoy the subpoena!!!
I would like to know, what are they looking for? There have been many Americans murdered by terrorists ! This is the first time The GOP is blaming an American for the murders !
I'll take Issa and others of his ilk seriously when they ask serious questions about this:
June 14, 2002, U.S. consulate in Karachi, Pakistan
Suicide bomber kills 12 and injures 51.
February 20, 2003, international diplomatic compound in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Truck bomb kills 17.
February 28, 2003, U.S. consulate in Karachi, Pakistan
Gunmen on motorcycles killed two consulate guards.
July 30, 2004, U.S. embassy in Taskkent, Uzbekistan
Suicide bomber kills two.
December 6, 2004, U.S. consulate in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Militants stormed and occupied perimeter wall. Five killed, 10 wounded.
March 2, 2006, U.S. consulate in Karachi, Pakistan
Suicide car bomber killed four, including a U.S. diplomate directly targeted by the assailants.
September 12, 2006, U.S. embassy in Damascus, Syria
Gunmen attacked embassy with grenades, automatic weapons, and a car bomb (though second truck bomb failed to detonate). One killed and 13 wounded.
January 12, 2007, U.S. embassy in Athens, Greece
A rocket-propelled grenade was fired at the embassy building. No one was injured.
July 9, 2008, U.S. consulate in Istanbul, Turkey
Armed men attacked consulate with pistols and shotguns. Three policemen killed.
March 18, 2008, U.S. embassy in Sana'a, Yemen
Mortar attack misses embassy, hits nearby girls' school instead.
September 17, 2008, U.S. embassy in Sana'a, Yemen
Militants dressed as policemen attacked the embassy with RPGs, rifles, grenades and car bombs. Six Yemeni soldiers and seven civilians were killed. Sixteen more were injured.
.... until then, they're just partisan hacks refusing to accept responsibility for their own decision to cut funding for embassy security.
Not too long ago she was saying "what difference does it make". She could care less about dead Americans. We all heard all the nasty things she said about her husband's rape victims.
Since you have the most to lose Mrs Clinton I'm not surprised you feel this way.
There is a huge reason to continue to get to the bottom of that event, and the lies that were told........because the lies were outrageous!
we know you and obamaites do not believe in WE the people "to use the phone and the pen", but WE vets want the truth as do all Americans. Rice did not go on her own to lie to us.
Of course Hillary doesn't want people to see her dismal failure as Secretary of State. Four Americans were killed and she did nothing to stop it or help those on the ground. Why would she want the lies told to be revealed?
Under your watch....
Then Hillary needs to tell the people all that she knows on the subject. The President said that the morning after the attack, with Hillary at his side, he told the American people that it was a terrorist attack yet for the next 14 days the President, Hillary, and other members of the administration told the American people another story, a lie. She along with all members of the administration including the President who were involved need to step forward and admit to the lie and explain why the American people were lied to. The President promised transparency and that is what the people want.
Interesting comments coming from the woman who said "What does it matter?"
Well I think Hillary Clinton is a little biased to say anything about this.
no hag, your biggest regret is that you got caught in the middle of a huge lie!!!! and as for 'not being satisfied' you bet your huge, fat ass we aren't satisfied – NOTHING has been answered and when it is you will be exposed as the lying, cunning person you are – but WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE?
The simple purpose of a select committee in the house is to keep this matter open thru 2014 and also up to 2016.
The sub plot is that it is an attempt to bully HRC into not running as the democratic nominee for president.
it would not be a surprise to me if the recent decision of Lewinsky ( serialized mag articles) has been engineered by the epublican party!!
My god its almost 20 years since that matter and still they want to rake over the dirt. Move on please.
Regards,
Hodgson