The British security firm that failed to protect the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, from a terrorist attack a year ago that killed Ambassador Christopher Stevens was told by the State Department to avoid the media, the latest example of stonewalling over the attack.

In newly uncovered emails received by the public watchdog group Judicial Watch, State was notified that the firm, Blue Mountain Group, was being pressed for answers about the surprise attack. Instead of giving the group the green light to answer the media, State ordered the firm to go into hiding.