Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) responded to Hillary Clinton saying Monday she regrets the terrorist attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, by challenging her to join him in calling for a special investigation into the consulate’s inadequate security.
“If she really was sorry, then she would stand up and join me and 22 other senators calling for a joint select committee in Congress to investigate why our facilities in Benghazi were not secure, why we didn’t respond to the reports of terrorist activities, why we didn’t have military assets in place to protect our brave men who were serving there, and why nobody has been held accountable — not a single person’s been fired at the Department of State, and none of the terrorists who attacked us over a year ago have been brought to justice,” Cruz said Monday.
“If she was really sorry — talk’s cheap; she needs to stand up and demand action,” he added.
Talk Is Cheap: This Is How Ted Cruz Responded to Hillary Clinton Saying She Regrets the Benghazi Attack
Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton speaks to the National Automobile Dealers Association meeting in New Orleans, Monday, Jan. 27, 2014. (AP)
Clinton said Monday during an appearance at the National Automobile Dealers Association in New Orleans that the September 2012 attack is her biggest “regret” of her time as secretary of state.
“My biggest, you know, regret is what happened in Benghazi,” she said.
“It was a terrible tragedy, losing four Americans, two diplomats, and now it’s public, so I can say two CIA operatives. Losing an ambassador like Chris Stevens, who was one of our very best and had served in Libya and across the Middle East and spoke Arabic,” Clinton said “I mean, you know, you make these choices based on imperfect information. And you make them to, as we say, the best of your ability. But that doesn’t mean that there’s not going to be unforeseen consequences, unpredictable twists and turns.”
Both Clinton and President Barack Obama have characterized the Accountability Review Board’s investigation into the attack on the consulate as sufficient.
The report did not call for the removal of any State officials.
Republicans lawmakers continue to call for an independent review of the attack
“You know me well enough to know that my persistence in pursuing answers isn’t about politics or a vendetta, it’s about the Legislative Branch conducting its most basic responsibility: strong oversight,” Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.) said in a letter to Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), urging the Ohio Congressman to appoint a House select committee to investigate the attack.
“To date, we can’t honestly say we’ve fulfilled this constitutional responsibility with regard to Benghazi,” Wolf’s letter added.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has blocked the Senate from participating “in such an investigation,” the Washington Examiner reported.