The House GOP faulted former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for the deadly terrorist attack at the US Consulate in Benghazi, Libya.
The attack, which happened on September 11, 2012, killed four Americans, including US Ambassador Chris Stevens. The latest report on the attack by Republicans implies that Clinton misled lawmakers about her role in the incident.
Clinton allegedly drew down security assets in the country , despite threats of violence. The report, which is 43 pages long, also accused President Barack Obama of failing to anticipate violence against Americans could happen on the anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
The report was produced by Republican staff from the House committees on Armed Services, Foreign Affairs, the Judiciary, Oversight and Government Reform, and Intelligence.
In it, the representatives accuse the Obama administration of attempting to “cover up” the reality of the Benghazi attack . The White House commented on the report, explaining that it raises questions “that have already been asked and answered in great detail.”
In faulting Hillary Clinton for the Benghazi security lapse, the report cited a cable , signed and sent by the former secretary of state on April 19, 2012. Clinton acknowledged requests from Stevens’ predecessor regarding more security. However, it “articulates a plan to scale back security assets for the U.S. Mission in Libya, including the Benghazi Mission.”
And while the House GOP report on Benghazi implies Clinton and President Obama are to blame, it also seems to exonerate the US intelligence community and the Defense Department. It states:
“The President, as Commander-in-Chief, failed to proactively anticipate the significance of September 11 and provide the Department of Defense with the authority to launch offensive operations beyond self-defense.”
Clinton testified about the Benghazi attacks in January, saying that routine requests for security did not come directly to her. She added that she did not approve or reject them.
The State Department has maintained that the security measures in question, namely the removal of Marines from Tripoli, would not have helped the Benghazi Consulate, because the troops were based hundreds of miles away. They were a temporary security measure and were pulled partially because of cost concerns.
The report faulting Hillary Clinton for the Benghazi security lapse has not been adopted by the full House of Representatives.
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