Republicans: Obama officials withholding key evidence on Benghazi
Several Republican members of Congress claim the Obama administration is withholding key evidence relevant to their investigations into the Sept. 11 attack on the U.S. compound in Benghazi, Libya.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., told CBS News Tuesday he is growing increasingly frustrated with Congress' inability to get information they seek. "Key pieces of evidence are being withheld from Congress," Graham said, specifically mentioning real-time reporting from the CIA station chief the night of the attacks and FBI interviews with survivors said to be conducted immediately after the attacks. Graham added that information was requested "a couple of weeks ago." A handful of other Republicans involved in the investigation have also expressed their concerns but requested they not be quoted for this story.
At a Nov. 14 press conference, President Obama stated that his administration has provided all information regarding "what happened in Benghazi."
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"We have provided every bit of information that we have, and we will continue to provide information...," the president told reporters, adding, "we will provide all the information that is available about what happened on that day..." and "I will put forward every bit of information that we have."
Despite Mr. Obama's statements, the administration has also declined to provide CBS News with requested information including White House photographs taken the night of the attacks, details concerning the president's and his staff's decisions during the attacks, drone and ground-level surveillance images, and email communications and documents from the night of the Benghazi attacks.
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Obama administration officials had indicated they would publicly release a declassified version of the surveillance video before Thanksgiving, but they did not do so.
