Opening statement by Chairman Trey Gowdy:
Madame Secretary, I understand some people - frankly in both parties -have suggested this investigation is about you. Let me assure you it is not. And let me assure you why it is not. This work is about something much more important than any single person. It is about four U.S. government workers, including our Ambassador, murdered by terrorists on foreign soil. It is about what happened before, during, and after the attacks that killed these four men. It is about what this country owes those who risk their lives to serve it. It is about the fundamental obligation of our government to tell the truth - always - to the American people. Not a single member of this Committee signed up for an investigation into you or your email system. We signed up because we wanted to honor the service and sacrifice of 4 people sent to a foreign land to represent us - who were killed - and do everything we can to prevent it from happening to others.
What he should have said:
Madame Secretary, I understand some people - frankly in both parties -have suggested this investigation is about you. Let me assure you that is not entirely true. This investigation is partially about you and your fitness to lead our country as President of the United States. That reality cannot be ignored. It is also about a Secretary of State who stands over the bodies of four dead Americans, looks their families in the eye and knowingly lies about the circumstances of their death. It is about maintaining this lie in the service of a President facing reelection when the American people had a right to know the truth. It is about the fundamental obligation of our government and our government officials to tell the truth - always - to the American people. It is about YOUR obligation to tell them the truth. It is about what this country owes those who risk their lives to serve it. Not a single member of this Committee signed up for an investigation into you or your email system. We signed up because we wanted to honor the service and sacrifice of 4 people sent to a foreign land to represent us - who were killed - and do everything we can to prevent it from happening to others. It is about the role you played in their deaths and the lies and misdirections about their deaths. So admittedly, this investigation is in part political as were YOUR ACTIONS in this whole sordid affair. In order to honor the dead and give closure to their families, the American people need to know who you are and who you aren't. Your testimony today, we can all hope will go a long way in determining that. Regardless, you will not be judged by this committee but by the American people. I strongly encourage you to be truthful and forthcoming.
Yep. She is caught red handed in the emails knowingly lying to the victims families, media, and the american people. No it is not a crime but it is a very very very important point for considering here presidential goal. It is a point that should have been driven home repeatedly throughout the day and everytime she attempted to deny her statements emails to both her family and Egyptian president should have been repeated with request for response, did she lie to them knowingly or to the american people & victims families the next day? But I guess that would have been rude crude and so un PC. proper.
ReplyDeleteSide note which at least for me was a primary goal of this whole wasted effort was not even touched. Were was O, who was in charge at all points of this attack that lasted for a very long time, and who specifically either froze during a crisis or worse gave that stand down order?