Sen. Kelly Ayotte said Sunday she’s glad House Speaker John A. Boehner has called for a select committee to investigate the Sept. 11, 2012 terrorist attack in Benghazi, Libya and that there has been important work done on the issue in relevant committees but that the investigation thus far has been “disjointed.”
“And the latest revelation from the White House really tells us that we need this select committee,” Ms. Ayotte, New Hampshire Republican, said on “Fox News Sunday.” “Why is it that we’re just receiving this email, that really shows where the idea from the video came, because that video was not in the talking points, and yet that is what Ambassador Rice pushed on your show and every Sunday show?”
The email in question was from a top national security aide to President Obama, who appeared to be coaching others on how to respond to questions in the wake of the Benghazi attacks.
The aide urged that the focus be placed on an anti-Islam video — though both defense and intelligence community sources at the time had already disregarded the video as the reason for the attack on the U.S. diplomatic post in Benghazi.
“It’s a lie that the video caused the protests,” Sen. Lindsey Graham, South Carolina Republican, said on CBS’s “Face the Nation.” “20 months later, they’re hiding things.”
Ms. Ayotte, along with Mr. Graham and GOP Sen. John McCain of Arizona, has also called on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada Democrat, to take similar action and work with Mr. Boehner, Ohio Republican, to make the investigation a joint effort between the House and the Senate.
SEE ALSO: Pelosi says she ‘couldn’t care less’ about Benghazi criticism
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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