House Republicans’ report fault Obama on Benghazi attacks

FILE - In this Sept. 12, 2012 file photo, glass, debris and overturned furniture are strewn inside a room in the gutted U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, after an attack that killed four Americans, including Ambassador Chris Stevens. Democrats on the House Benghazi panel said in a report Monday, June 27, 2016, that security at the Libya facility the night of Sept. 11, 2012 was “woefully inadequate,” but former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton never personally denied any requests from diplomats for additional protection. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Alaguri, File) FILE - In this Sept. 12, 2012 file photo, glass, debris and overturned furniture are strewn inside a room in the gutted U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, after an attack that killed four Americans, including Ambassador Chris Stevens. Democrats on the House Benghazi panel said in a report Monday, June 27, 2016, that security at the Libya facility the night of Sept. 11, 2012 was “woefully inadequate,” but former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton never personally denied any requests from diplomats for additional protection. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Alaguri, File)

By Associated Press June 28, 2016 2 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) – Republicans on the House Benghazi Committee faulted the Obama administration Tuesday in a report on the deadly 2012 attacks in Benghazi, Libya.

The panel’s chairman, Rep. Trey Gowdy of South Carolina, and other Republicans accuse the Obama administration of stonewalling important documents and witnesses. Democrats say the panel’s primary goal is to undermine Hillary Clinton’s presidential bid.

Clinton was secretary of state during the attacks, which killed four Americans, including U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens.

Democrats released a report Monday saying that while the State Department’s security measures in Benghazi the night of Sept. 11, 2012 were “woefully inadequate,” Clinton never personally turned down a request for additional security at the U.S. outpost in Benghazi. Democrats said the military could not have done anything differently that night to save the lives of four Americans.

The dueling reports highlighted the partisanship of the inquiry, which has been marked by finger-pointing on both sides.