WASHINGTON -- U.S. Sen. David Perdue held his first hearing as a subcommittee chairman Tuesday morning with an eye toward reforming the State Department, while deflecting a charge for yet another investigation into the 2012 Benghazi attacks.
State Department Inspector General Steve Linick revealed that his office is looking into how the department is implementing post-Benghazi embassy safety recommendations.
But U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., wanted Linick to return to the original attack. Asked Johnson:
"Are you thinking about taking a look at that? Because the ARB did not answer those question. We've had several probes. I know there's a special committee in the House trying to get to those answers. But we've been very frustrated. It's two and a half years since the tragedy in Benghazi and we still don't know some very basic answers to some very basic questions."
Linick replied:
"I'm happy to work with the committee if you think I need to look at something in particular. But we wanted to take our limited resources and at least try to make sure we don't have another tragedy again."
Johnson offered to submit his questions in writing. Asked about the exchange after the hearing, Perdue agreed with Linick:
"Well, it's a matter of resources, right? The Inspector General has a mission, and it's very clearly to improve the ability to deliver security for personnel. That's the first thing. And to make sure they can fulfill their mission as a State Department. If you start looking retroactively, I'm not sure he's got the resources really to do that. That was his answer. So I think it's a question of resources."
Republicans in Congress have been digging on the Benghazi case for years following the deaths of four Americans at the U.S. consulate there. Democrats have criticized the investigations as a partisan exercise against Hillary Clinton as she runs for president, while Republicans have said they are getting stonewalled in their quest for answers about what went wrong and why.
U.S. House leaders appointed select committee led by Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., to stay on the case. Clinton reportedly has agreed to testify about Benghazi to the committee.
Perdue's top priorities when it comes to the State Department IG were its requests for a separate IT system and to be brought in earlier when State investigates internal misconduct. U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., the top Democrat on the panel, had a similar line of questioning, and the tone was far from confrontational.
Linick revealed that a recent hack of the State Department servers "has affected us," without going into further detail.
The hearing was the first of several Perdue plans as he addresses a reauthorization of the State Department, which Congress has not accomplished since 2002 amid partisan acrimony. Asked his thoughts on wielding a subcommittee gavel for the first time, Perdue replied:
"It's sobering, seriously. These are serious issues. They are men and women who are dedicating their careers and putting their lives at risk. They've lost lives. We've had to close down two embassies because these are dangerous posts out there. I don't take it lightly. This is a serious subcommittee."
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