Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, R-Ga., pressed Hillary Clinton on why, if she was aware of the increasing danger in Libya in 2012, she did not take additional action to protect State Department officials stationed there.
The heated exchange came during a highly-anticipated hearing with Clinton before the House Select Committee on Benghazi Thursday.
“You said you were briefed by the CIA whenever you were in Washington,” Westmoreland said, asking Clinton if she ever received pieces of intelligence that Libya was becoming more dangerous.
“I can’t speak to specific pieces, but I was well aware of the concerns we all had,” Clinton said.
Clinton said she was briefed on the escalating violence in Libya, as well as the growing strength of terror cells in the country.
The Georgia Republican pressed Clinton on why, then, she did not fortify the diplomatic compound at Benghazi.
“There was never any recommendation by anyone … to leave Benghazi,” Clinton said. “There was no credible, actionable threat against Benghazi.”
“What I did not and do not believe any secretary should do was to substitute my judgement … for the judgement of the security professionals,” she added.
