.png)
 |
| Credit: Susan Walsh / AP |
The White House should "come clean" and release all of its e-mails related to the crafting of former U.N. ambassador Susan Rice's message on the Benghazi attack, including ones redacted for supposed national security purposes, says the GOP.
Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, a member of a House committee investigating the attack, made the demand a day after the release of an e-mail showing that White House aide Ben Rhodes wanted to blame the 2012 assault on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, on a protest that never happened there.
Referring to Benghazi and Middle East unrest, he said that she should "underscore that these protests are rooted in an Internet video, and not a broader failure of policy."
Chaffetz told USA TODAY that the White House has turned over e-mails with much of the content blocked out.
"There were other e-mails that went to Susan Rice. We got them with heavy redactions," Chaffetz told USA TODAY. "The White House needs to come clean on what they said."
White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters Wednesday that Rhodes' e-mail had been misconstrued because it was referring to protests happening across the Muslim world at the time.
"The e-mail and the talking points were not about Benghazi. They were about the general situation in the Muslim world," Carney said.
But the White House had provided the emails to House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform based on a request for communications on Benghazi. And portions on Rhodes' email that were blocked out pertained to Benghazi.
The emails came to light only after a watchdog group sued for the unblocked emails under a Freedom of Information Request.
Carney's claim is "laughable," Chaffetz said. "Susan Rice was asked about Benghazi and she repeated exactly what Ben Rhodes wanted her to say."
Susan Rice used her TV appearances to deny that the Benghazi attack was a terrorist plot and to blame it on a non-existent protest that turned violent. U.S. ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens and three State Department employees were killed in the attack, which the White House later acknowledged was a planned terrorist attack and not preceded by a protest.
Republican lawmakers have accused the White House of seeking to minimize the role of terrorism in the attack while President Obama was seeking re-election and claiming that al-Qaeda was in retreat.
Read the full story: www.usatoday.com
No comments:
Post a Comment
Comment Policy:
The author of this blog will attempt to engage in conversation via the comments section whenever possible and recognize the 24/7 nature of the internet. Moderating and posting of comments will occur during regular operational hours Monday through Friday. Comments submitted after hours or on weekends will be read and posted as early as possible, however admins and/or the author is unable to commit to replying to every comment posted.
This is a moderated blog. That means all comments will be reviewed before posting. In addition, it is expected that participants will treat each other, as well as the author and admin, with respect. Comments that contain vulgar or abusive language; personal attacks of any kind will not be posted. Comments that are spam or that promote services or products will not be posted. It is requested that all comments remain on topic.
The Elder Statement blog does not guarantee or warrant that any information posted by individuals on this blog is correct, and disclaims any liability for any loss or damage resulting from reliance on any such information. The Elder Statement blog may not be able to verify, does not warrant or guarantee, and assumes no liability for anything posted on this website by any other person. The Elder Statement blog does not endorse, support or otherwise promote any private or commercial entity or the information, products or services contained on those Web sites that may be reached through links on our Web site.
To protect individual privacy and the privacy of others, please do not include phone numbers, addresses or email details in the body of a comment. Such information will result in removal of a comment.
Thank you for your attention.
The Elder Statement