Clinton to testify on Benghazi attack Jan 23

PanARMENIAN.Net - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will testify Jan. 23 before the House Foreign Affairs Committee about the Sept 11 attack on the American compound in Benghazi, Libya, the panel’s chairman said late Monday, Jan 14, according to The Ticket.

The terrorist assault claimed the lives of the U.S. ambassador, Chris Stevens, and three other Americans.

“I appreciate Secretary Clinton’s desire and willingness to testify before the Committee as we continue to examine this deadly terrorist attack in an effort to ensure that nothing like it happens again,” Republican Rep. Ed Royce of California said in a statement.

“My intention is for this hearing to focus on why this attack was not better anticipated, what leadership failures at the State Department existed, and what management deficiencies need to be corrected in order to better secure our diplomatic facilities abroad and protect our diplomats serving in them,” Royce said. “It is important to learn all we can about what happened in Benghazi because at the end of the day, it could happen again. After all, al-Qaeda plans attacks over and over again.”

Clinton had been slated to testify in December, but she suffered a concussion after a fall linked to an illness and had to reschedule. She is due to step down as the top American diplomat, and President Barack Obama has nominated Democratic Sen. John Kerry to succeed her. He is expected to win easy confirmation by the Senate.