Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul wasted no time in criticizing President Barack Obama’s new pick for national security adviser, telling Fox News he “can’t imagine” promoting former U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice to any significant position.
“I can’t imagine, one, that we would be keeping Ambassador Rice in any significant position, much less promoting her to an important position,” Paul said on “America’s Newsroom.” “How are they going to have the authority for people to believe what they’re saying, when he’s promoting someone who directly and deliberately misled the public over Benghazi?”
The senator appeared on the show not long after current National Security Adviser Tom Donilon announced his resignation Wednesday morning. Though President Obama hasn’t officially announced his pick to fill Donilon’s spot — which he will make public in the Rose Garden on Wednesday afternoon — there have been reports that he will appoint Rice.
“…I really question the president’s judgement in promoting someone who was complicit to misleading the American public,” Paul continued.
Rice came under intense scrutiny from congressional Republicans after appearing on five Sunday news shows following the attacks on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi. The former ambassador told viewers the attacks resulted from a YouTube video, though investigations continue as to where Rice’s changed talking points for the shows originated.
Paul went on to say he thinks Americans are still “hopping mad” over the murders of Ambassador Chris Stevens, Sean Smith, Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods, and said he still has lots of lingering questions on the Sept. 11 events.
Rice’s appointment to national security adviser comes not long after she lost Hillary’s Clinton’s vacated position as secretary of state. Samantha Power is likely to replace Rice as U.N. ambassador.
