Corker Questions Vice President for Misleading on Deadly Terrorist Attacks in Benghazi

U.S. Senator Bob Corker, R-Tenn., a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, questioned Vice President Joe Biden’s comments during last week’s debate in which Biden blamed the intelligence community for the administration’s initial false assessment of what led to the deadly attacks on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, when it was known by the administration within 24 hours that the attack was an act of terrorism. The vice-president also mistakenly claimed that no requests were made for additional security by U.S. officials in Libya prior to the attack on September 11.

“The vice president’s comments last night about the situation in Benghazi, which claimed the lives of four Americans, absolutely do not square with facts on ground in Libya,” said Corker. “Within 24 hours of the incident the administration knew that this was an orchestrated terrorist attack, and they clearly were aware of the specific details, including requests for additional security, that have finally been made public this week. With the vice president continuing this ruse with his comments last night, all Americans should ask what the administration is trying to hide.”

Corker returned to Tennessee late Tuesday from a fact-finding trip to Jordan, Libya, and the Syrian border. In Tripoli on Monday, Corker participated in a briefing regarding the situation on the ground in Libya and the terrorist attack in Benghazi. He has continued to note the heroism of the four Americans killed, including Ambassador Christopher Stevens, and the security officials who responded to the attack that night.