U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, a Coweta County Republican, clashed Thursday with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on diplomatic security at the U.S. compound in Benghazi, Libya.
After Westmoreland laid some blame on State Department security for the 2012 attack that left four Americans dead, Clinton defended the employees and shot back that she — and Westmoreland — rely on those same people for protection.
The exchange was one of several tense moments in the lengthy hearing as the House Select Committee on Benghazi questioned the Democratic front-runner in the presidential race.
Said Westmoreland: “When you say security professionals, I’m not trying to be disparaging on anybody, but I don’t know who those folks were, but, just…”
Clinton jumped in. “Well, they risked their lives to try to save…”
Then Westmoreland came back, saying: “Just my little opinion, they weren’t very professional when it came to protecting people.”
Later in the questioning, Clinton returned to the point.
“I have to add, congressman, the diplomatic security professionals are among the best in the world,” she said.
“I would put them up against anybody. And I just cannot allow any comment to be in the record in any way criticizing or disparaging them. They have kept Americans safe in two wars and in a lot of other really terrible situations over the last many years.
“I trusted them with my life. You trusted them with yours when you’re on (overseas congressional delegation trips). They deserve better and they deserve all the support Congress can give them because they are doing a really hard job very well.”
Westmoreland replied: “Well, ma’am, all I can say is they missed something here, and we lost four Americans.”
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