Hillary Clinton shows grief at the deaths, anger at GOP accusations as she testifies in front of Congress on Benghazi attack

The outgoing secretary of state said security improvements are needed at U.S. embassies across globe following attack that killed Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans.

During questioning about the September attacks on U.S. diplomatic sites in Benghazi, Libya, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton responded forcefully when Republicans such as Sen. Ron Johnson attacked U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice for “purposely misleading the American public.”  “Nothing could be further from the truth,” Clinton shot back. “The fact is that people were trying in real time to get to the best information.”

WASHINGTON — At times combative and emotional, Secretary of State Clinton said Wednesday that she responded quickly to the Sept. 11 raid on the consulate in Libya — and took responsibility for mistakes that led to the deaths of the U.S. ambassador and three other Americans.

Her voice rising, Clinton dueled with Republican Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, who alleged Rice purposely misled the public and that Clinton was also to blame.

 

“With all due respect, we had four dead Americans,” Clinton said.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pounds her fists as she responds to intense questioning on the September attacks on U.S. diplomatic sites in Benghazi, Libya, during the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing January 23. As for GOP charges of a White House cover-up. “What difference at this point does it make?” Clinton said angrily. She ripped Johnson for focusing on Rice’s so-called “talking points” instead of death of four Americans.

The appearance came less than a month after she was hospitalized at New York-Presbyterian Hospital Columbia for a blood clot near her brain resulting from a concussion she suffered in a fall. 

“I have seen you work yourself to exhaustion,” said Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), an orthopedic surgeon.

In her opening statement, Clinton’s voice cracked as she praised diplomats and the risks they take, underscoring that the consulate tragedy was a deeply personal one for her. 

“I stood next to President Obama as the Marines carried those flag-draped caskets off the plane at Andrews (Air Force Base). I put my arms around the mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, sons and daughters,” she said, lines she did not read from a virtually identical formal statement to the House later.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (R) hugs Senator John McCain (R-AZ) as she arrives to testify on the September attack on U.S. diplomatic sites in Benghazi, Libya.