Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Benghazi survivors could testify this week

Benghazi survivors could testify this week

By DAVID M. DRUCKER | NOVEMBER 13, 2013 AT 6:31 AM
Rep. Devin Nunes is asking House Speaker John Boehner to consider appointing an “independent investigator” to look into the Benghazi terrorist attack ahead of a possible House Intelligence Committee hearing with survivors of the incident.
Congressional Republicans have demanded that the White House provide access to the survivors of the Sept. 11, 2012, attack, which claimed the life of U.S. Ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens. Nunes, R-Calif., a key member of the House Intelligence Committee, expressed his concerns to Boehner about the ongoing investigation in a Nov. 6 letter.
Five House committees have been cooperating in a joint investigation into the Benghazi terrorist attack, and Nunes praised their work and coordination. The California Republican also expressed his appreciation for the bipartisanship leadership of House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers, R-Mich., and the panel's top Democrat, Maryland Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger.
In his letter to Boehner, Nunes said that the Intelligence Committee “has obtained an extraordinary amount of crucial information that sheds light on the murky events of Sept. 11, 2012.” But the Californian is concerned that the White House might not be completely forthcoming as the committee continues to pursue answers to additional questions.
If that turns out to be the case, Nunes would like Boehner to appoint an independent investigator to work under the speaker’s direction in cooperation with the Intelligence panel.
“If questions remain unanswered or if some answers differ substantially from the established narrative and timeline of the attack, then it would be warranted to take new measures and synthesize the information obtained by the Intelligence Committee and other committees investigating the Benghazi attack. The best approach at that juncture would be to appoint an experienced, independent investigator,” Nunes wrote.
According to Nunes’ letter, the questions he is still looking to have answered include:
• Why military aid wasn’t dispatched to Benghazi in response to the attack.
• Whether calls for military air support were made, and if so, whether they were authorized.
• What level of communication did the relevant agencies in Washington have with U.S. assets in Libya during the attack.
This story was first published on Nov. 12 at 10:22 p.m.

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