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."

• Timeline: How Benghazi attack and investigation unfolded
• Complete Coverage: U.S. Consulate attacked 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."

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.

• Susan Rice to meet with McCain on Benghazi
• White House declines to release images from night of Benghazi attacks

Obama administration officials had indicated they would publicly release a declassified version of the surveillance video before Thanksgiving, but they did not do so.

[RandforTruth]

You guys are doing nothing but trying to divert Republicans from the truth with all your lies. Its not Bush's fault. Someone needs to accept blame where the blame is due. For those of you that support him, what are you gonna do when the kool-aid runs out?

[1ATL1]

Anything to change the subject from the fiscal cliff. Anything to shift the political advantage back into the Republicans court. Pure desperation and absolute despicable behavior on behalf of the Republicans. But then again these same people insist that Obama is a Kenyan born witch doctor. The universe was created 6000 years ago, in 7 days. Yes we can trust the conspiracy theories of this bunch! They would never try to mislead anyone.

[MTATL670]

McCain and Graham repeated lies that killed more than 4 Americans.

[genesis667]

Obama is the one that has drug this out....He is deflecting, lying, obfuscating and manipulating...Why, because the evidence shows he handled the situation very poorly....

[bill_o_rights]

The administration will never provide the requested documents, because it would provide proof of their actual intentions in the middle east--illegal gunrunning to terrorist organizations fighting to topple the Assad regime.

There's plenty of anecdotal evidence, but no documents.

What's interesting is that much of the mainstream media provides cover for the administration on Benghazi. Perhaps I was wrong about CBS, though. Perhaps CBS is seeking the truth, like real journalists.