Former Gov. Mitt Romney said Friday that it’s fair for Republicans to point out to fundraisers that their party is the reason questions are still being asked about a 2012 Benghazi attack that killed four Americans.
“I think what the Republicans have every right to say, and is fine to say, is if Republicans didn’t have the majority in Congress, there wouldn’t be an investigation into Benghazi,” he said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” “There would not be an investigation into Benghazi, there would not be an investigation into the IRS if the Republicans didn’t have the House, so to say elect Republicans so we can have these investigations is appropriate.”
He also said former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s handling of the attack of the U.S. Consulate will be a liability for her in a potential 2016 presidential run, noting that relationships with countries around the world got worse during her time in the administration.
“This was not a good time for America,” he said. “It’s hard to think of a nation over the last four, five, six years that respects America, thinks more of America today than when President Obama took office.”
Mr. Romney repeated the common GOP criticism that the president also hasn’t been aggressive enough in foreign policy to get involved when action could have the most impact.
“In Syria, we don’t have good options right now because the president sat and watched,” he said. “Leading from behind, sitting back and observing affairs in the world, is not the way for America’s foreign policy interests to be carried out.”
SEE ALSO: House votes to create special panel for Benghazi investigation
• Jacqueline Klimas can be reached at jklimas@washingtontimes.com.
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