Hot Seat: Hillary Clinton on Capitol Hill to Answer Questions on 2012 Benghazi Terror Attack

News Staff : Oct 22, 2015
CBN News

A new Associated Press-GfK poll shows Americans view the investigation as justified.

(Washington, DC)—[CBN News] Hillary Clinton is in the hot seat today on Capitol Hill, with Republicans questioning her again about her actions during the Benghazi terrorist attack that killed four Americans. (Photo: Carolyn Kaster/AP/via The Guardian)

Clinton's appearance is the first public hearing in nearly 10 months before the special House committee investigating what happened in Benghazi on Sept. 11, 2012.

Clinton was secretary of state at the time of the attack. She previously testified in Congress in January 2013 when she voiced her exasperation with the investigation.

"Was it because of a protest or was it because of guys out for a walk one night who decided they'd go kill some Americans? What difference, at this point, does it make?" she asked.

Congressional Republicans say it's clear the Obama administration tried to cover-up its incompetence by quickly creating a smokescreen.

They told the public the attack was just related to a protest over an online video about Mohammad. The evidence has revealed it was actually a well-orchestrated terrorist attack.

Meanwhile, Democrats argue it's a pointless political investigation designed to undermine Clinton's bid for the White House.

But the committee is still looking for more answers. And a new Associated Press-GfK poll shows Americans view the investigation as justified.

A Rasmussen reports poll also shows most voters don't think Clinton is "telling the whole story about the incident."

About 52 percent of likely U.S. voters say Clinton has not been honest in her disclosures and testimony related to the attack, while just 27 percent think she has been honest.

When it comes to voters who are not affiliated with either major party, 61 percent think Clinton has not been honest. Overall, just 37 percent of all voters say they trust Clinton.

The month after the fatal assault, Clinton declared she had been responsible for the safety of those serving in Benghazi, without acknowledging any specific mistakes on her part.

But the administration continually tried to distance Clinton and President Barack Obama from the attack, saying neither of them was aware of the requests for better protection because security decisions were handled at lower levels.

Four senior State Department officials were put on paid leave after an independent accountability board said that security at the Benghazi mission that night was "grossly inadequate." The department then reassigned three officials to positions of lesser responsibility. One resigned.

Some Republicans have complained that no one was fired. Critics also questioned why the board didn't interview Clinton during its investigation.