Washington, DC – Congressman Howard L. Berman, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee made the following statement in response to the attack on the U.S. diplomatic facility in Benghazi, Libya that killed Ambassador Chris Stevens, and three other U.S. officials:

“I am horrified by the murder of the US ambassador to Libya and three other U.S. officials. Absolutely nothing justifies this despicable act,” said Rep. Berman. “I am particularly angry that this sickening attack occurred in a country that the U.S. did so much to liberate.

“Ambassador Stevens was one of our best and brightest -- and most courageous. He was on the ground in Benghazi leading U.S. diplomatic efforts from the earliest days of the revolution. He worked tirelessly on behalf of U.S.-Libyan relations and the well being of U.S. citizens living in Libya. He will be missed for his knowledge of the Middle East, his exemplary commitment to service, and his basic human decency. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of all the dedicated foreign service officers whose lives were lost today.

“Libya owes the American people a full investigation of this incident, in complete cooperation with U.S. authorities. The killers must be found and brought to justice.”

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