WASHINGTON, DC—Representative Eliot L. Engel, the ranking member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, today made the following statement regarding the investigation of the Benghazi attacks:

“The ongoing political exploitation of four American lives lost in Benghazi is shameful.  As Republicans themselves have admitted, this taxpayer-funded charade is aimed solely at derailing Secretary Clinton’s presidential bid. (It doesn’t seem to be working.)  Hopefully after their day in the media spotlight, the committee’s Republicans will do the right thing and pack up this circus.

“The biggest problem with this political sideshow is that it distracts from a legitimate concern that arose following the Benghazi attack.  The Accountability Review Board’s professional, nonpartisan investigation into the attack revealed unacceptable vulnerabilities to our diplomats stationed abroad.  The State Department took these findings seriously, and has implemented robust changes that will help keep our personnel safer and hopefully prevent tragedies in the future.  As Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, I also consider this a serious matter, and I’ve offered legislation to further enhance embassy security that I hope our Committee will soon consider.

“I hope today’s unnecessary grilling of Secretary Clinton will end, once and for all, the Benghazi witch hunt.  Now Congress should turn its attention back to the real issues facing the nation like helping the middle class, rebuilding our infrastructure, and addressing the serious challenges we face abroad.” 

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