Parents Of 2 Americans Killed In Benghazi Attack File Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against Hillary Clinton
WASHINGTON (CBSNewYork/AP) -- The parents of two Americans who were killed in the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, on Sept. 11, 2012 have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.
Freedom Watch announced Monday that Charles Woods and Pat Smith, the parents of victims Tyrone Woods and Sean Smith, filed the lawsuit against Clinton in the U.S. District Court for Washington, D.C.
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The suit alleges Clinton wrongfully caused the death of the two men. The suit also accuses Clinton of defamation and intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress.
"Having used a secret private server that we now know was used to communicate with Ambassador Christopher Stevens with confidential and classified government information, and which we also now know was likely hacked by hostile adversaries such as Iran, Russia, China and North Korea aligning with terrorist groups, it is clear that Hillary Clinton allegedly negligently and recklessly gave up the classified location of the plaintiffs' sons, resulting in a deadly terrorist attack that took their lives," attorney Larry Klayman said in a statement. "It is no coincident that covert State Department/CIA operations were being run out of Benghazi."
Klayman claims Clinton defamed Charles Woods and Pat Smith by calling them liars.
"To add insult to deadly injury, Hillary Clinton told the plaintiffs that their sons were killed as the result of a video mocking the Islamic prophet Mohammed when she knew that they were murdered by Muslim terrorists," Klayman said. "When the families exposed her lies, she called them liars to protect her reputation and to further her own presidential ambitions. She thus defamed the parents of fallen heroes Tyrone Woods and Sean Smith, as well committed other wrongful acts, as alleged in the complaint."
He continued, "Hillary Clinton has been thus far fortunate, throughout her careers, to escape the long arm of the law, believing and acting as if she is above the law. This time, her 'luck' has run out."
Four people died in the 2012 attack in Benghazi, including Ambassador Christopher Stevens. Clinton was secretary of state at the time.
Speaking at the Republican National Convention last month, Pat Smith blamed Clinton for her son's death.
"For all of this loss, for all of this grief, for all of the cynicism the tragedy in Benghazi has brought upon America, I blame Hillary Clinton. I blame Hillary Clinton personally for the death of my son," Smith said.
In June, Republicans on the House Benghazi Committee released an 800-page report on the attack, accusing the Obama administration of stonewalling important documents and witnesses. It also faults the military for its slow response sending resources to Benghazi despite clear orders from the president on down.
Democrats said the panel's primary goal was to undermine Clinton's presidential bid.
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