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Hillary Clinton clashes with senator at Benghazi hearing Hillary Clinton clashes with senator at Benghazi hearing
(35 minutes later)
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has lashed out at a senator who accused the Obama administration of misleading the public over a raid on a US consulate.Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has lashed out at a senator who accused the Obama administration of misleading the public over a raid on a US consulate.
A member of the Senate foreign relations committee suggested there had been a cover-up of events surrounding the assault in Benghazi. A member of the Senate foreign relations committee suggested there had been a cover-up of events surrounding the assault in Libya.
Mrs Clinton thumped the table as she clashed with Senator Ron Johnson.Mrs Clinton thumped the table as she clashed with Senator Ron Johnson.
Earlier in the hearing, she took responsibility for security failures that led to the attack.Earlier in the hearing, she took responsibility for security failures that led to the attack.
Mrs Clinton will be grilled later on Wednesday in the House of Representatives, where she is expected to face even more heat. The back-to-back hearings are expected to be her last appearance on Capitol Hill as America's top diplomat. Mrs Clinton will be grilled later on Wednesday in the House of Representatives, where she is expected to face even more heat.
The US envoy to Libya, Christopher Stevens, and three other officials were killed in the raid on 11 September. The back-to-back hearings are expected to be her last appearance on Capitol Hill as America's top diplomat.
Emotional She is being questioned about the raid on 11 September last year on the US mission in Benghazi that left the US envoy to Libya, Christopher Stevens, and three other officials dead.
Emotional testimony
The ambassador died of smoke inhalation when he was trapped in the burning consulate building, after armed men stormed the compound.The ambassador died of smoke inhalation when he was trapped in the burning consulate building, after armed men stormed the compound.
Four months after the attack on Benghazi, Mrs Clinton is finally testifying in an open hearing in Congress about what happened, how her department and the administration handed it, and how to move forward.Four months after the attack on Benghazi, Mrs Clinton is finally testifying in an open hearing in Congress about what happened, how her department and the administration handed it, and how to move forward.
Mrs Clinton has testified once before on Benghazi already, in a closed session, when the investigation was still ongoing. Many questions were left unanswered.Mrs Clinton has testified once before on Benghazi already, in a closed session, when the investigation was still ongoing. Many questions were left unanswered.
She is hoping her long-awaited appearance in front of Congress will defuse some of the political acrimony that has engulfed the debate about Benghazi. Much is at stake in this hearing, not just for Mr Obama's foreign policy in his second term and how Republicans will interact with his administration, but also for Mrs Clinton herself. This is her last high-profile public appearance before she steps down in a couple of weeks.She is hoping her long-awaited appearance in front of Congress will defuse some of the political acrimony that has engulfed the debate about Benghazi. Much is at stake in this hearing, not just for Mr Obama's foreign policy in his second term and how Republicans will interact with his administration, but also for Mrs Clinton herself. This is her last high-profile public appearance before she steps down in a couple of weeks.
The assault triggered a major political row over who knew what and when. As a result, an independent panel - the Accountability Review Board - was charged with investigating the incident. The assault triggered a major political row over who knew what and when.
Outrage in Congress over the incident has already led the US ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, to withdraw from the race to succeed Mrs Clinton. Outrage in Congress over the incident led the US ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, to withdraw from the race to succeed Mrs Clinton.
Last November, Mrs Rice admitted releasing incorrect information after the Benghazi attack. She said there had been no attempt to mislead the public, but Republicans were unconvinced.Last November, Mrs Rice admitted releasing incorrect information after the Benghazi attack. She said there had been no attempt to mislead the public, but Republicans were unconvinced.
At Wednesday's hearing, Wisconsin Republican Sen Johnson said: "We were misled that there were supposedly protests and then something sprang out of that, an assault sprang out of that." At Wednesday's hearing, Sen Johnson, a Wisconsin Republican, said: "We were misled that there were supposedly protests and then something sprang out of that, an assault sprang out of that."
Mrs Clinton replied with a raised voice: "But with all due respect, the fact is we had four dead Americans - was it because of a protest, or was it because of guys out for a walk one night who decided they'd go kill some Americans."Mrs Clinton replied with a raised voice: "But with all due respect, the fact is we had four dead Americans - was it because of a protest, or was it because of guys out for a walk one night who decided they'd go kill some Americans."
Thumping the table four times, she added: "What difference, at this point, does it make? It is our job to figure out what happened and do everything we can to prevent it from ever happening again, senator."Thumping the table four times, she added: "What difference, at this point, does it make? It is our job to figure out what happened and do everything we can to prevent it from ever happening again, senator."
Mrs Clinton told the senators her department was implementing - as well as going above and beyond - 29 recommendations by an independent panel that investigated the incident.
Earlier, Mrs Clinton's voice cracked with emotion as she described the moment she and President Barack Obama welcomed home the coffins of those killed in the Benghazi attacks.Earlier, Mrs Clinton's voice cracked with emotion as she described the moment she and President Barack Obama welcomed home the coffins of those killed in the Benghazi attacks.
"I stood next to President Obama as the marines carried those flag-draped caskets off the plane at Andrews," she said."I stood next to President Obama as the marines carried those flag-draped caskets off the plane at Andrews," she said.
"I put my arms around the mothers and fathers, the sisters and brothers, the sons and daughters, and the wives left alone to raise their children.""I put my arms around the mothers and fathers, the sisters and brothers, the sons and daughters, and the wives left alone to raise their children."
She also told the Senate committee she never saw paperwork requesting more security at the consulate in Benghazi.She also told the Senate committee she never saw paperwork requesting more security at the consulate in Benghazi.
'Expanding terrorist haven'
In her opening remarks, Mrs Clinton pointed to the rise of Islamist militancy across North Africa and said: "Benghazi did not happen in a vacuum."In her opening remarks, Mrs Clinton pointed to the rise of Islamist militancy across North Africa and said: "Benghazi did not happen in a vacuum."
The secretary of state's appearance comes less than a week after a siege by Islamist militants at a gas facility in Algeria in which three Americans died.The secretary of state's appearance comes less than a week after a siege by Islamist militants at a gas facility in Algeria in which three Americans died.
"Instability in Mali has created an expanding safe haven for terrorists who look to extend their influence and plot further attacks of the kind we saw just last week in Algeria," Mrs Clinton said."Instability in Mali has created an expanding safe haven for terrorists who look to extend their influence and plot further attacks of the kind we saw just last week in Algeria," Mrs Clinton said.
The secretary of state also said there was "no doubt" that the Algerian attackers and remnants of al-Qaeda in Mali had weapons from Libya.The secretary of state also said there was "no doubt" that the Algerian attackers and remnants of al-Qaeda in Mali had weapons from Libya.
Three state department employees have lost their jobs over the Benghazi attack, and recommendations the panel made in December are already being implemented. Three state department employees have lost their jobs over the Benghazi attack.
Mrs Clinton, who is stepping down from her post in two weeks, has spent a month recuperating from a series of ailments in December, which delayed her testimony.Mrs Clinton, who is stepping down from her post in two weeks, has spent a month recuperating from a series of ailments in December, which delayed her testimony.
She is considered a strong candidate for the Democratic nomination for president should she run in 2016.She is considered a strong candidate for the Democratic nomination for president should she run in 2016.
Mr Obama has nominated Democratic Senator John Kerry as her replacement as Secretary of State. Mr Obama has nominated Democratic Senator John Kerry to replace her as Secretary of State.