Benghazi Report Faults Security; No New Clinton Allegations

Benghazi Report Faults Security; No New Clinton Allegations
The Associated Press
Updated:

WASHINGTON—Republicans on the House Benghazi Committee harshly faulted the Obama administration Tuesday for lax security and a slow response to the deadly 2012 attacks at the U.S. diplomatic outpost in Libya. But they produced no new allegations about then–Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

The attacks, which killed four Americans, including U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens, have been repeatedly cited byRepublicans as a serious failure by the administration and by Clinton, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president.

But the committee’s 800–page report, released by Republican members, offered no “smoking gun” about Clinton’s role. Rep. Trey Gowdy, the panel’s chairman, has repeatedly said the report was not aimed at her, though Democrats have accused the committee’s Republican majority of targeting her throughout.

The report from the two–year, $7 million investigation severely criticizes the military, CIA and administration officials for theirresponse as the attacks unfolded the night of Sept. 11, 2012, and their subsequent explanation to the American people.

House Benghazi Committee Chairman Rep. Trey Gowdy, R–S.C., left, talks with the committee's ranking member Rep. Elijah Cummings, D–Md. on Capitol Hill, on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
House Benghazi Committee Chairman Rep. Trey Gowdy, R–S.C., left, talks with the committee's ranking member Rep. Elijah Cummings, D–Md. on Capitol Hill, on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015. AP Photo/Evan Vucci