Congressman Trey Gowdy, a Republican representing the 4th Congressional District of South Carolina and member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, questioned Gregory Hicks, top official under Ambassador Christopher Stephens in Libya about statements made by United Nations Ambassador for the United States, Susan Rice that the incident in Benghazi was fallout from the video “The Innocence of Muslims”, made in Orange County, CA by Nasoula Basseley. Congressman Gowdy said, “So hours after our ambassador and three others were killed in Benghazi, the President of Libya says it was an attack with possible terror
Video uploaded to You Tube by Les Grossman
links, correct?” Mr Hicks, “Yes sir, that’s what I recall.”
Remainder of transcript:
Gowdy:“Did the President of Libya ever mention a spontaneous protest related to a video?”
Deputy Hicks: “No sir.”
Gowdy: “When Ambassador Stevens talked to you, perhaps minutes before he died, as a dying declaration, what precisely did he say to you?”
Deputy Hicks: “He said,’Greg we’re under attack,’.”
Gowdy: “Would a highly decorated career diplomat have told you or Washington had there been a demonstration outside his facility that day?”
Deputy Hicks: “Yes Sir, he would have.”
Gowdy: “Did he mention one word about a protest, or a demonstration?”
Deputy Hicks: “No Sir, he did not.”
Gowdy: “So fast forward Mr. Hicks to the Sunday talk shows and Ambassador Susan Rice. She blamed this attack on a video. In fact, she did it FIVE DIFFERENT TIMES. What was your reaction to that?”
Deputy Hicks: “I was stunned. My jaw dropped, and I was embarrassed.”
Gowdy: “Did she (Rice) talk to you before she went on the five Sunday talk shows?”
Deputy Hicks: “No Sir.”
Gowdy: “You were the highest ranking official in Libya at the time. Correct?”
Deputy Hicks: “Yes Sir.”
Gowdy: “And she did not bother to have a conversation with you before she went on national television?”
Deputy Hicks: “No sir.”
Gowdy: “So Ambassador Rice directly contradicts the evidence on the ground in Libya. She directly contradicts the President of Libya. She directly contradicts the last statement uttered by Ambassador Stevens. Mr. Hicks, who is Beth Jones?”
Deputy Hicks: “Beth Jones is the acting Assistant Security for Near Eastern Affairs at the State Department.”
Gowdy: “I want to read an excerpt from an email she sent, and you were copied on it. And by the way Mr. Chairman, and for our colleagues who would like to trumpet bi-partisanship, this would be a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate it. Some of these emails, even though they are not classified have not been released Mr. Chairman, including the one that I am going to read from. So for my colleagues who trumpet bi-partisanship, this would be a wonderful time to prove it. This is from Ms. Jones, to you, to counsel for Hillary Clinton, to Victoria Newland, to Mr. Kennedy, near as I can tell, to almost everyone in the State Department, and I’m going to read from it. I spoke to the Libyan Ambassador and emphasized the importance of Libyan leaders continuing to make strong statements. By the way Mr. Hicks, this email was sent on September the 12th (2012), the day AFTER Benghazi and SEVERAL DAYS before Ambassador Rice’s television appearance. And I’ll continue…”
(Gowdy reads) “When he said that his government suspected that former Qaddafi regime elements carried out the attacks, I TOLD HIM that the group that conducted the attacks, Ansar al-Shariah is affiliated with Islamic terrorists.”
Gowdy: Let me say that again Mr. Hicks, SHE told HIM, the STATE DEPARTMENT on September the 12th, DAYS BEFORE our Ambassador went on national television, is telling the AMBASSADOR TO LIBYA that the group that conducted the attacks, Ansar al-Sharia is affiliated with Islamic terrorists. Mr. Hicks, I want to know number one, why in the world would Susan Rice go on five Sunday talk shows and perpetuate a demonstrably false narrative? And secondarily, what impact did it have, on the ground in Benghazi, the fact that she contradicted the President of Libya?”
Deputy Hicks: “As to the first question, I can not provide an answer, but perhaps you should ask Ambassador Rice.”
Gowdy: “I would LOVE the opportunity to do JUST THAT.”
Deputy Hicks: “As to the second question, the…at the time we were trying to get the FBI to Benghazi to begin its investigation, and that talk show actually provided an opportunity to make that happen. Afterwards, we encountered bureaucratic resistance for a long period from the Libyans. The Libyan government is at this time, not very deep. President, Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Ministers, Ministers, all capable people, some vice ministers as well. And it took us an additional two…see my math’s not very fast these days, maybe eighteen days to get the FBI team to Benghazi.”
Gowdy: “So the crime scene was unsecured for eighteen days?”
Deputy Hicks: “Yes Sir.”
Gowdy: “Witnesses were not interviewed…”
Mr. CHAIRMAN SPEAKS: “Would the gentleman please finish up, we are going to try to move along.”
Gowdy: “Yes, I will move on. We will finish this if there is a second round. Thank you, Mr. Hicks.”
Even though acting Assistant Security for Near Eastern Affairs at the State Department, Beth Jones told the Libyan Ambassador that the group that conducted the attacks, Ansar al-Sharia is affiliated with Islamic terrorists, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton shamelessly stood in front of the flag draped caskets of dead Americans and blamed a YouTube video anyway, which can be clearly seen in the video below at after the six minute mark.
Video uploaded to You Tube by UpTakeVideo
It is clear from testimony and from reviewing of statements made by Obama Administration officials, that there was indeed a concerted effort to distort the truth, and to identify the “Innocence of Muslims” video as the cause for the Benghazi attacks, rather than acknowledging that on September 11th, 2012, indeed the anniversary of the World Trade Center attacks were downplayed while Al-Qaeda affiliated Ansura al-Sharia seized the opportunity to strike at the armed forces commanded by a naive and complacent Commander-in-Chief.
Video uploaded to You Tube by The Heritage Foundation
(H/T: Breitbart, Mediaite, Katie Pavlich/Town Hall)
This article has been updated several times with additional information.
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