Rep. Frank Wolf Promotes Bill for House Select Committee on Benghazi Attack
Sentiment for getting to the bottom of the Sept. 11, 2012 fatal attack on Americans in Benghazi, Libya continues to simmer on Capitol Hill, even in the wake of high-profile hearings with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. One of the major initiatives being taken comes from Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA), who on Jan. 18 introduced HR 36, a bill which would set up a House Select Committee to do a thorough investigation of the Benghazi attack, and the Administration's action and inaction related to it. The bill has 20 cosponsors at this time, and has been sent to the Rules Committee.
On Jan. 23, Rep. Wolf took to the House floor under Special Orders, to motivate his bill. Four months after the attack, he stressed, the administration won't name the groups involved, no one is in custody, no link has been made by the administration to other attacks on U.S. embassies, and no State Department employee has been held responsible.
Rep. Wolf also noted that the New York Times had reported that some Egyptians who had been involved in the Benghazi attack, were also involved in the Algerian gas kidnapping. "Why, in the wake of last week's deadly terrorist attack in Algeria, are no reporters investigation the serious links between al-Qada's affiliates in North Africa and the connection between the groups" Wolf asked.
H.R. 36 calls for the following action:
"Not later than 90 days after the initial meeting of the select committee, the select committee shall conduct an investigation of and submit to the House a report on—
(1) any intelligence known to the United States relating to the attack on the United States consulate in Benghazi, Libya, on September 11, 2012;
(2) any requests for additional security, or actions taken by Federal agencies to improve security at the consulate before the attack;
(3) a definitive timeline of the attack;
(4) how the relevant agencies and the executive branch responded to the attack and whether appropriate congressional notifications were made;
(5) any improper conduct by officials relating to the attack;
(6) recommendations on what steps Congress and the President should take to prevent future attack; and
(7) any other relevant issues relating to the attack or the response to the attack.
