WASHINGTON—Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s testimony on the State Department’s handling of the terrorist attack on the Benghazi, Libya, consulate may be over, but criticism from GOP members of Congress clearly is not.
One of the most vocal members at the House Committee on Foreign Affairs at Wednesday afternoon’s hearing was Rep. Jeff Duncan, R-S.C., who expressed frustration over unanswered questions about Benghazi and at the State Department for missing Stevens’ requests for additional security.
“Madame Secretary, you let the consulate become a deathtrap,” Duncan said. “And that’s national security malpractice.
Rep. Steve Chabot, R-Ohio, was also critical of the administration’s handling of Benghazi.
“The administration dropped the ball here…and they lied after the fact,” Chabot said.
Although he was displeased with Clinton, Chabot said the overall blame lies with President Barack Obama
“In this case I think the buck stops at the president’s desk,” Chabot said.
The hard questions from the right were in stark contrast to the sentiments from the left. At one point Rep. Gregory W. Meeks, D-N.Y., even began by thanking Clinton for her “wonderful daughter” who helped clean up debris after Hurricane Sandy.
The Democrats stood behind Clinton, thanking her for her service and primarily asking for advice for the future. Although the questions from House Republicans were tough, Rep. Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., said he was never worried about Clinton.
“My money’s on her,” Engel said. “There’s no situation Hillary Clinton can’t handle.”
