White House declines to release images from night of Benghazi attacks

The White House Photo Office has declined CBS News requests to release images taken of US officials during the Sept. 11 Benghazi attacks.

CBS News first requested the images on Oct. 31. In the past, the White House has released photos showing US officials during national security incidents. A half dozen images related to the mission that captured and killed Osama bin Laden were given to the public last year. One depicts President Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and members of the national security team gathered in the Situation Room on May 1, 2011.

A White House official referred our request regarding the Benghazi attacks to the White House Photo Office. On Nov. 1, an official there indicated she would process our request quickly, but then did not respond further. Finally, this week, the White House Photo Office told CBS News it would not release any images without approval of Josh Earnest in the White House Press Office. Earnest did not respond to our telephone calls and emails.

At a press conference on Nov. 14, 2012 President Obama stated that his Administration has provided all information regarding "what happened in Benghazi."

"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."

In addition to the Benghazi images, CBS News has also requested, but not received, details concerning the president's and his staff's decisions during the attacks. Last year reporters were given details of the decision making, timeline and players regarding the Osama bin Laden raid as well as access to certain emails.

CBS News is also seeking drone and ground-level surveillance images and email communications and documents from the night of the Benghazi attacks. So far, none has been provided.

[marychgo]

Two or three official investigations are currently under way. Wouldn't it make more sense to release photos and/or videos when those investigations are completed and we're able to understand the context of whatever photos or videos we see? I'm all for "freedom of the press" and FOIA requests, but it's difficult to see what CBS thinks it's going to accomplish with these requests...unless it's simply kowtowing to the Republicans who insist on politicizing this tragic event!

[logicalsc]

Well we know that Obama went off to bed so unless they wheeled him out in his jammies and stuck a borrowed jacket over them like they did when "Obama singlehandedly kill Bin Laden", not much to photograph.

And anyway how does his help get me my government condoms and free abortions?

Keep you eyes on the important lady parts portion of Obama's wonderful performance, did you not see President "eye-candy" on The View the next day?

[biggovslimgov]

Why would they release a pic to CBS News after the Steve Kroft interview on Sep. 12th?

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50134495n

Perhaps CBS should just ask again the Steve Kroft question that has not yet been answered from the clip @1:34, "Why was the ambassador in Benghazi yesterday?"

[TheOtherNNW]

From the report it appears that this involves a lot more than "18 minutes."

And there are the 4 dead Americans -- while serving their country, no less, while the President was packing for the Vega$ fundraising.

Remember that when you hear Mr. Obama declare "We will leave no one behind." (Translation: Anyone can end up under the bus.)

The Most Transparent Administration in History®

[illegalPresident]

None dare call it Treason? Not me!

[illegalPresident]

Joseph Goebbels would be so proud......

[mextea]

so the most transparent administration in the history of the world will NOT release pictures? surprise surprise!

[JimRyals]

Of course there are no pictures. The administration doesn't want the world to know that Barry sleeps in pajamas with blue unicorns on them.

[Ronald Norman]

What happened to the "Stinger Missiles" that were being sold or given to the "Moslem Brotherhood" which were transshipped to Syria and its end user al-Quida surrogates?

[ChakraKhan]

Why doesn't CBS just go to YouTube and find the videos there and then go to Libya and find the people who made them or were there at the attack. Also go to the people who tried to save the Ambassador. Everything I've read so far on this story including news from Libya via Twitter, tells me that the consulate; or mission or outpost or whatever it's being called from one day to the next; was attacked by armed militants because the new Libyan government has problems with security. Why did thousands of demostrators show up to protest at a Ansar al Sharia building to disarm them? Could all of these people gotten it wrong? I don't get why the American media isn't asking the questions and isn't seeking information themselves from Libyan sources. Perhaps CBS should read this http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/50C15.txt scroll down to just under executive order number No. 12333 pertaining to intelligence to protect national security (you might want to pre-read the text prior). Basically it states that the responsibility of the intelligence community is to provide "timely, accurate and insightful" information. It also says something about the Director of the DNI having to approve information about intelligence. So if the law is giving specific guidance to Clapper, shouldn't he have been the one who is responsible for information that changed if he has a legal duty? Keep reading the link more and you'll find out that all this partisanship is contrary to this Code. Honestly the reporting seems to me to be on a wild goose chase. FOCUS!