GOP Benghazi report suggests Clinton should have known risks

by TheHill.com - 06/28/16 7:08 AM ET

House Republicans on Tuesday plan to release the long-awaited report surrounding the investigation into the 2012 attacks in Benghazi, Libya, that left four Americans dead.

A portion of the 802-page report obtained by CNN doesn’t offer a scathing indictment of then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the current presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, but does argue intelligence was available that an attack was possible.

{mosads}The report said Clinton and a top aide, Patrick Kennedy, should have realized the risks that extremist groups posed to the U.S. mission in Benghazi, according to CNN.

“It is not clear what additional intelligence would have satisfied either Kennedy or the Secretary in understanding the Benghazi mission compound was at risk — short of an attack,” the report said.

CNN said that the report from the GOP-led panel investigating Clinton portrays bureaucratic inertia, a worsening security situation in Libya and inadequate resources in the months leading up to the Sept. 11, 2012, attack that left Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans dead.

Republicans also released a more political analysis of the attack, authored by Reps. Mike Pompeo (Kan.) and Jim Jordan (Ohio), blaming the attack on a “tragic failure of leadership,” according to CNN.

“The one thing we conclude in our report is we didn’t seem to have the urgency that was needed. We didn’t move heaven and earth to get help to the people who were fighting for their lives and that’s a problem,” Jordan said during an appearance on CNN’s “New Day.”

U.S. officials said that, despite risks in Libya, there wasn’t actionable intelligence to prevent the attack. Clinton testified before the Benghazi committee last October in a marathon hearing that came amid an intense presidential race, where she sought to put the issue behind her.

Republicans plan to formally unveil their report at a news conference at 10 a.m. in Washington, D.C., capping off a two-year probe involving the former secretary of State. Democrats on Monday released their 339-page rebuttal ahead of the GOP report on Monday.

This breaking news report was updated at 7:25 a.m.