Prompt Hearing on Loss of Lives in Benghazi Needlessly Marked by Political Taint
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) issued the following statement following the Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing entitled, "The Security Failures of Benghazi."
"Libya is a friendly country for the United States, thanks in no small part to the courageously effective efforts of Ambassador Christopher Stevens, the valiant public servant, who, along with three other brave Americans, were lost in the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi on September 11th. This surprise attack could be an ominous precursor of what we must be ready for in more hostile nations. The tragic, deadly attack on the consulate sends a strong message that many of our personnel serving the United States in diplomatic posts are at serious risk in this era of budget cutting. I join Ranking Member Elijah Cummings (D-MD) in urgently asking for a supplemental funding bill to restore the funding for embassy security that was cut by the Republican-led House over the last two years. I regret that, while denouncing the State Department for not providing the necessary resources in Benghazi, no Republican joined Rep. Cummings' call for supplemental funding. Instead, the Ryan budget increased funds for the Department of Defense while slashing all other accounts, including funding that might have made a difference in Benghazi.
However, funding was only one symptom of the artificial divide between Democrats and Republicans at today's hearing. This hearing cried out for bipartisanship because both sides are equally disturbed by the loss of life in the attack on our country's consulate. But, before the hearing, Republicans excluded Democrats from the investigation by concealing witnesses, refusing to share pertinent documents, and making it impossible to travel to Libya with the chair of the subcommittee, among other things.
Yet, I believe it was important to hold this hearing now when memories are fresh. For example, the hearing, for the first time, showed that Ambassador Susan Rice relied on information from the office of the Director of National Intelligence when she initially reported that the Benghazi attack was the result of protests over the video that led to attacks on embassies throughout the Middle East. Even though the hearing elicited other valuable information as well, by deliberately excluding Democrats from the process, Republicans left the public with the impression that the hearing was called for political purposes in an election year. Had Republicans worked in a bipartisan fashion at today's hearing, this hearing would have been free of political taint and worthy of the courageous men who gave their lives in service to our country."
Published: October 10, 2012