Still beating the Benghazi drum, Graham calls for delay on WH's nominee for CIA director

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a member of the Armed Services Committee and the Homeland Security Committee, center, leaves after speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2012, following a closed-door meeting with UN Ambassador Susan Rice. at left is fellow Senate Armed Services Committee member Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H. Rice, who could find her name in contention as early as this week to succeed Hillary Rodham Clinton as secretary of state, has been criticized by GOP lawmakers for her comments following the deadly Sept. 11 attack on a U.S. consulate in Libya. / AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite

Nearly four months after the September 11 attacks in Benghazi, Libya that killed four Americans, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., continues to rail against the Obama administration for what he says are unanswered questions about "what transpired before, during and after the attack on our consulate." As a result, he's demanding that the nomination of John Brennan as CIA director be delayed until he is satisfied that his inquiries have been suitably answered.

"I have not forgotten about the Benghazi debacle and still have many questions about what transpired before, during and after the attack on our consulate," Graham said today in a statement. "I do not believe we should confirm anyone as Director of the CIA until our questions are answered."

Brennan is the second high-profile presidential nomination that Graham has protested on these grounds: He, along with Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., were critical in derailing U.N. ambassador Susan Rice's prospects at being named secretary of state. Rice withdrew her name from consideration for the post last month after protracted attacks from Graham, McCain, Ayotte and other Republicans, who targeted initial comments she made about the September attacks in a series of talk show appearances a few days later.

• Rice withdraws from secretary of state consideration
• Timeline: How Benghazi attack, probe unfolded

In his statement, Graham points to a lack of clarity over talking points the CIA gave to Rice ahead of those appearances, which were edited to exclude reference of the likely involvement by terrorists and an al-Qaeda affiliate in the attack.

"We were first told the Director of National Intelligence deleted the Al-Qaeda reference in the talking points because they did not want to let al Qaeda know we were monitoring them. We were then told the FBI changed the talking points so as not to compromise an ongoing criminal investigation. Finally, during a meeting with Ambassador Rice and acting-CIA Director Morrell, I was told it was the FBI who changed the talking points," Graham said in the statement. "However, later in the day the clarified it was the CIA who had changed the talking points."

In late November, acting CIA Director Mike Morrell and Rice mete privately with Graham, McCain, and Ayotte specifically to address their questions about the Benghazi attacks. In that meeting, Morrell said he believed it was the FBI that removed the references, despite previous accounts stating the edits had been the work of the CIA. Morrell later retracted that statement, saying he "misspoke" and that the CIA was, in fact, responsible.

After that meeting, Graham said he was "more disturbed now than I was before" about the explanations he had received on the subject.

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney has repeatedly dismissed what he called the "obsessive focus" on Rice's initial comments as "misplaced and misguided," and says President Obama is more concerned with figuring out what happened in Benghazi and how to prevent future occurrences than playing politics on the issue. The administration has also accepted the conclusions of a critical independent report detailing the the incident, and two top State Department officials recently testified about the report in front of separate House and Senate committees. Outgoing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is also expected to testify on the incident in the future.

Graham, who is up for reelection in 2014 and has also criticized Chuck Hagel, Mr. Obama's pick for defense secretary, says he is not ready to let the issue rest.

"Who changed Ambassador Susan Rice's talking points and deleted the references to Al-Qaeda?" Graham asked again today in his statement. "This ever-changing story should be resolved."

[sickofwhiners]

Yes questions need to be answered. Questions like "Why are we paying attention to this partisan hack?" and "Don't we have some pressing issues to deal with besides getting sidetracked with this stuff?" and maybe "Who is running the CIA right now?" and "What else can republicans use to try to make the democrats look bad?" Then there is "How can we take advantage of this for political gain?"

[easymoola]

This ever-changing story should be resolved."

It should be but it won't be. 'Don't you dare try and question the Omnipotent President about any potential cover up.

[davidd5063]

GOP FILTH doesn't "love" their country - they love themselves and ONLY love the country when who they voted for is in charge - otherwise, they throw hateful, childish, FITS and behave like TERRORIST.

[Ben37221]

What a joke Linsey Graham has become. Time and time again Graham has shown his dishonesty and outright lack of consideration for what is best for our country. Why should they put any nomination on hold for this guy. We all know what his motives are-just another excuse to tear down the president's nominee.
What is unfortunate is that the people of South Carolina vote for a crazy guy like this who puts his agenda ahead of the interest of our country. Shame on Linzey graham, and other republicans who are willing to bring the country to his kneels just to score one against the president. Ask McCarno what become of his number one priority. Let Linzey Graham and his friends know that no weapon form against HIM shall prosper.

[bluejacket2-2009]

South Carolina chose to secede from the Union in 1861 and we foolishly fought to bring them back in.... Is it possible to kick Lindsey Graham, South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi and Texas out of the Union? Freaking Confederates..

[nearl451]

Natrually it is so much more secure for us to have no head of State, rather than just questions someone about past failures.

Let's just hamstring Defense and every other depr as well instead of allowing the Ececutive to execute.

[Scion777]

Nothing is hamstrung at all - their immediate deputies continue the job as always.

[davidd5063]

No Scion777, EVERYTHING is hamstrung and up in the air with uncertainty - nothing can change, just maintain the status quo that ol' Lindsey RUBBER STAMPED while his buddies GW and Cheney were robbing the country blind. You bigotted, rationalizing, GOP filth need bullets to the head and I sure hope we get to start cleaning up he American gene pool soon.

[shurch4truth]

Lets suggest that Mr. Graham pursue some type of companionship so he stops trying to fill in his lonesome time with making a lot of noise as a way to get attention and more importantly to him, company.

It's doubtful that if Mr.Graham had commitments to other people he would be spending so much time railing about this and railing about that.

Mr. Graham is a good man who is worthy of respect but the honest truth is he's got too much time on his hands and fills it by doing this

[teb13]

Give it a rest...trying to score more political points...let's bring up some of his past - it isn't too pretty. He has a lot of skeletons in his closet if he wants to go there. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.

[Aceduece]

You're right on there......Talk about an old "closet queen". Must be the prissiest Senator ever.

[Choons]

I'm starting to think Lindsey Graham and his ilk are the real Zombie Apocalypse everyone said is coming

[TheDocD]

This pathetic little weasel needs to be removed from politics by any means necessary.