TWO VIEWS
“This is the insulting way Republicans have conducted this investigation. Instead of honoring his service and looking for ways to save future lives, Republicans are playing a game of political ‘gotcha’ with our military.”
— Rep. Elijah Cummings, senior Democrat on the House oversight committee, lamenting what he said was at least the sixth time Republicans have interrogated Gen. Carter Ham, former head of the U.S. Africa Command about the Benghazi attack
“We will never stop demanding answers and accountability when our national security is at stake and we owe that to the families of those brave American citizens who were murdered.”
House Democrats on Wednesday demanded an end to a Republican-led investigation into the deadly attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, calling the probe a partisan “witch hunt.”
Republicans rejected those calls and pledged to press ahead.
Reps. Adam Smith of Washington state, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, and Elijah Cummings of Maryland, the top Democrat on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said the multiple inquires and reports have answered the questions surrounding the Sept. 11, 2012, assault.
Four Americans, including U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens, were killed.
Nineteen months after the attack, Republicans are throwing “mud against the wall in hope something sticks,” Smith told reporters at a news conference. “It is time to get past the Benghazi witch hunt.”
Hours later, at a separate news conference, Senate Republicans said only a special select committee could get answers about what happened the attack and what President Barack Obama was doing that chaotic night. The GOP contends the administration tried to mislead the American people about a terrorist attack in the heat of a presidential campaign.
Republican Sen. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, John McCain of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said they had no plans to abandon their effort.
“We will never stop demanding answers and accountability when our national security is at stake and we owe that to the families of those brave American citizens who were murdered,” McCain said.
Graham said he urged the House leadership to end the separate committee investigations and appoint a select committee. “Put new eyes on Benghazi before it’s too late,” he said.
Cummings and Smith spoke shortly before the House committees interviewed retired Army Gen. Carter Ham, who headed U.S. Africa Command on the night of the attack. in a closed session. Cummings said Ham has been interviewed at least six times, and that an independent report and a Republican report from the House Armed Services Committee found no evidence of a “stand down” order to the military, delaying a response.
“This is the insulting way Republicans have conducted this investigation,” Cummings said, contending they are playing a “game of political gotcha with our military.”
Multiple independent and congressional investigations have largely faulted the State Department for inadequate security at the mission.
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