Susan Rice to meet with McCain on Benghazi

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice. / CBS News

Updated 10:31 a.m. ET Tuesday

United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice is meeting with senators on Capitol Hill today to answer questions about the Sept. 11 attack in Benghazi, Libya. Her appearance will include a morning meeting with Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who have been among her biggest critics since her initial remarks on the attack.

Rice has come under fire from Republicans for her initial account of the attack five days after it took place, when she suggested that there was no evidence the incident was an act of terrorism. On CBS News' "Face the Nation," in one example, she said the "assessment at present" was that "based on the best information we have to date...it began spontaneously in Benhgazi as a reaction to what had transpired some hours earlier in Cairo, where of course as you know there was a violent protest outside our embassy sparked by this hateful video." She added that "extremist elements" then joined the effort.

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Susan Rice speaking out on Libya attack

The White House later said the assault was a preplanned terror attack, and some Republicans have suggested that they would block Rice's possible nomination to become Secretary of State for her role in what some say was a cover-up by the administration. Rice and her allies said she was merely repeating talking points given to her by the CIA and approved by the wider intelligence community. She said she "made clear that the information was preliminary, and that our investigations would give us the definitive answers."

• McCain, Graham soften on Susan Rice attacks
• Timeline: How Benghazi attack, probe unfolded

In recent days, top Republicans have seemed to soften their criticism. McCain said on "Fox News Sunday" that he could change his mind about blocking her potential nomination, saying he would "give everyone the benefit of explaining their position and the actions that they took." He added that Rice is "not the problem." Graham - who last week called Rice "so disconnected to reality I don't trust her" - said Sunday he places the blame for the account on "the president above all others" and declined to say outright he would oppose Rice's nomination to become Secretary of State.

Rice is being accompanied on Capitol Hill by acting CIA Director Mike Morell. Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., will also attend Rice's meeting with McCain and Graham, which was requested by Rice's office following the Republicans' criticism. On November 14, President Obama defended Rice from the criticism from GOP senators, saying that "If Sen. McCain and Sen. Graham want to go after somebody, they should go after me." He added that to "besmirch her reputation is outrageous."

CBS News' Margaret Brennan and Jill Jackson contributed to this report.

[Maerzie]

I think John McCain is "losing it"! He's getting Alzheimer's or some other senile dementia. He's had the answers over and over, and he acts as if he never heard them yet. Poor baby! As in the Peter Principle, he has reached (and passed) the level of his incompetence! He is trying SOOO hard to get another Republican in the Senate! I think he should just make up his own answers, as he wants.

[fxr60]

"Obama lied and four men died" should be a bumper sticker for every car! Susan Rice is covering for him. Obama knew within two hours what happen, because we all knew within 24 hours so why didn't he? The President should be the first one to know-and was!! Because of the election is the answer! They kept pushing the "you tube video" even after all the world knew it was NOT so! He should be impeached for his lying!!

[Maerzie]

Sort of like Bush lied and thousands died?? Except Bush's lie was FACT! Not wishful thinking! What's the "lie" that you want to try to pin on Obama because you didn't get YOUR candidate into the presidency??

[Sugarluvit]

Get her John stick it to her!

[Somewhere-In-The-Middle]

Someone asks a question and an answer is given. However, the listeners
are prepared to hear what they want to hear and even more prepared to
present a biased report to the public on what they heard and then the
political flesh-eaters who used to be in power, jump at the opportunity
to use their voices to enhance their own agendas and tear down one they
fear will succeed in areas where they failed.

"Lame-Brain McCain" and his finely-tuned constituents, or the "old GOP
guard".....have stepped in their own mess once again. How utterly
devine and how useless can they be?

[wfw3536]

I guess you do not know that new Senator Kelly Ayotte is part of this investigation. She is one of the sharpest senators and she has said she has said that Rice had access to the daily CIA talking points and we all know Rice changed them to promote this cover up.

[RealMrTeaMan]

WFW3536

"and we all know Rice changed them to promote this cover up"

You are the lair... and that fact has been proven... General Patraeus (head of the CIA at the time) testified that his agency gave her the talking points she used, that they were early, and that they were wrong....

So now that you know that, I am DURE you are OK with her now right?

Yahhh.. right.... pitiful...

[Jon_Smiths]

Remind me.....

When any of the 33 American Embassy personnel that were murdered during the Bush era...

Did the Democrats try to make political hay out of that?

[JetMechNinja]

Of course, never let a crisis go to waste. Duh.

[RealMrTeaMan]

nope... didnt happen

[wfw3536]

I am so glad Senator Kelly Ayotte is part of the investigation of this cover up by the Obama administration. Rice lied and it is time to find out if this was to help Obama win the election. Senator Ayotte is one of the sharpest senators in the senator. I believe this cover up is on the same level as Watergate and needs an independent investigator.

[cubscout09]

When Romney mentioned Benghazi at the second debate the audience laughed at him. The biggest cover up here might be that of Romney's dementia.

[cubscout09]

When Romney mentioned Benghazi at the second debate the audience laughed at him. The biggest cover up here might be that of Romney's dementia.

[JustOneAmerican]

_Nice Sidestep Dodging of the Key Question, You must work for Obama at the WH...Fact is 4 Dead due to an intended Protection of Obama's Election Image...You only see this slimy conviction in the movies...this is real...THIS IS WATERGATE-EXTREME...You REPUBLICANS sitting in Congress better prosecute, We Americans are watching intently...which one of you will turn your backs on us, who support you...we are watching to vote again in 2014..

[RealMrTeaMan]

You lost the election...put the kool aide down and lets go to work...

[truvu17]

McCain has every right to make sure Rice can step into the Secretary of State position.

The position ranks 4th in line to the presidency in succession order. If something happened to the President, Biden, Boehner or Daniel Inouye, Susan Rice would be the United States President. They have to make sure that she is the right person for the job, not just her credentials.

Her statements just after the Benghazi tragedy incited a riot because she said it was because of a video tape.

[cubscout09]

I would trust Inouye the most. God forbid Boehner be left in charge, he can't even control the Tea Party, now.

[RealMrTeaMan]

"McCain has every right to make sure Rice can step into the Secretary of State position. "

Yes but he doesn't have the right to make things up, or ignore the facts.... both of which he is doing now....

This is getting really sad for him...

[o_jay]

An American consulate in an Islamic country overrun by Jihadis is attacked on the anniversary of 9/11 several months after the US assassinates Bin Laden, and Susan Rice is happy to say it was a spontaneous protest. She is either stupid or a liar or both.

[unknownsnder]

Congratulations for presenting the facts without a bias. Maybe I have been looking in the wrong place, but all the other news outlet sites I've been reading which are covering Benghazi are opinion pieces. Thank you and kudos to you Brian.