Reps. Issa and Chaffetz Call Oct. 10 Hearing on Obama Administration's Security Stripping of Benghazi Consulate

October 3, 2012 • 9:19AM

In a blockbuster open letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, dated Oct. 2, Representatives Darrell Issa and Jason Chaffetz of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform documented 13 known instances of security attacks against U.S. and other international representatives in Libya, all of which occurred before the Sept. 11, 2012 deadly attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi. Citing evidence provided by "multiple U.S. federal government officials" (whistleblowers), the letter states that "prior to the September 11 attack, the U.S. mission in Libya made repeated requests for increased security in Benghazi. The mission in Libya, however, was denied those resources by officials in Washington."

Unlike the shameful attempted cover-up by Sen. John Kerry, which sought to postpone an investigation until after the November 6 presidential election, Issa and Chaffetz are demanding answers immediately: "Please prepare a written response to the following no later than October 8, 2012, and make the appropriate officials from the Department available for a briefing for Members of the Committee by the same date:

"Was State Department headquarters in Washington aware of all of the above incidents? If not, why not?
"If so, what measures did the State Department take to match the level of security provided to the U.S. Mission in Libya to the level of threat?

"Please detail any requests made by Embassy Tripoli to State Department headquarters for additional security, whether in general or in light of specific attacks mentioned above. How did the Department respond to each of those requests?"

The pattern of incidents cited in the letter demonstrates clearly that targetting of U.S. officials was underway for months prior to the Sept. 11 attack, and that threats and incidents were often publicized on Facebook and other Internet locations. One entry is sure to cause particular distress in the Obama administration and its British controllers:

"Weeks before September 11, 2012, Benghazi — The unarmed Libyan guards employed by British contractor Blue Mountain Group were being warned by their familiy members to quit their jobs guarding Consulate Benghazi because there were rumors in the community of an impending attack."

Click here for the full text of the letter.