Susan Rice On Benghazi: ‘Dang If I Know’

National Security Advisor Ambassador Susan Rice is back in the news this week over the Benghazi attack, after she spoke a few days ago during a lunch to honor women in foreign policy — and the topic turned to the contentious incident.

Susan Rice was asked about investigations into Benghazi, and whether new information about the attack could come to light after further examination concludes.

Visibly exasperated, Ambassador Rice hit back at questions over whether the House Select Committee currently re-examining the Benghazi attack might, this time, crack the scandal wide open.

In response to new Benghazi questions, asking about whether this investigation could yield new information, she quipped:

“Dang if I know… I mean, honestly, the administration has produced, I think, 25,000 pages of documents, or 25,000 individual documents. They’ve supported, participated in, contributed to the investigations of, you know, seven, I think, different committees. We have had an accountability review board by a very distinguished group of outsiders.”

In an earlier statement on the committee, House Speaker John Boehner commented:

“This investigation is about getting answers for the families of the victims and for the American people. These members have each demonstrated a commitment to this goal, and I have confidence that they will lead a serious, fact-based inquiry… As I have expressed to each of them, I expect this committee to carry out an investigation worthy of the American lives lost in Benghazi.”

Rice continued, expressing skepticism that there is any more to be gained by repeated committee actions:

“You know, House and Senate committees have pronounced on this repeatedly. So it’s hard to imagine what further will come of yet another committee.”

The National Security Advisor also admonished Republican fixation on the Benghazi attack, suggesting that the best course of action is not to re-examine the incident — but instead to shore up security so more lives are not lost.

Rice added:

“We have a budget request on the Hill for $4.6 billion that is necessary, in the administration’s judgment, to make the kind of upgrades and provide the kind of security that our facilities need. Let’s focus on that.”

She concluded:

“… what is lost in all of this discussion about Sunday shows and talking points is that we lost four brave Americans on that day, and their families and those of us who work with them continue to grieve. And the last thing we need to do is to lose any more.”

As Susan Rice discusses Benghazi again, Nancy Pelosi described the committee as “a political stunt.” Watch the question and answer with Ambassador Rice, above.