Nooga.com - Rep. Scott DesJarlais participates in Benghazi hearing

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By James Harrison

Rep. Scott DesJarlais spent five minutes directing questions toward a former top American official in Libya Wednesday, during a hearing of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on last year's terrorist attack on a U.S. Consulate in Benghazi.
Before asking a series of questions to Gregory Hicks, a former deputy chief to Ambassador J. Chris Stevens--who was killed in the attack, along with three other Americans--DesJarlais said he hoped the hearing would uncover additional truth as to what happened.

"Today's hearing is about one thing, one simple thing: It's finding the truth," DesJarlais said. "I know these families here want the truth, and I know the American people want the truth. But yet I listen to this questioning today, and there seems to be a real partisan feel to finding the truth, and I don't understand that."

The congressman asked Hicks about his experience with State Department officials after he had raised concerns of how the response to the attack had been handled. Hicks said he began being treated differently by superiors following the assault in Benghazi and was ultimately relieved of his position and given the new job of foreign affairs officer--a "demotion," in his words.

"I was angry with the way I had been criticized," Hicks said, describing a period following questions he raised regarding U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice's initial characterization of the attack as a spontaneous response to an anti-Islamic YouTube video.
DesJarlais attempted to ask Hicks why the administration had been "quick to jump to conclusions" regarding how talking points had been put together.

"I think we all know that's not true, and I think we need to all find the answer to that," DesJarlais said.
Hicks did not answer the question, instead choosing to continue discussing changes to his employment status.
Corker comments
Earlier in the day, Sen. Bob Corker shared his thoughts on the House hearing during an appearance on MSNBC's morning news show "The Daily Rundown."
Sen. Bob Corker comments on Benghazi hearing

Corker, who is ranking member on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and who was repeatedly critical of the administration's response to the Benghazi attack, said he was still concerned about a lack of accountability he saw in the State Department's handling of the matter.
"There were four individuals involved, they've been reprimanded, and they're sitting at home with full pay," Corker said. "Americans all across our country are unemployed, and there are four State Department officials that candidly [show] there's just been no accountability. And I don't think it bodes well to know that people have made some mistakes, and candidly mistakes that cost people's lives, and there's nothing happening."

The senator and former Chattanooga mayor added that after his review of cables and videos regarding the attack, he had come away "fairly satisfied" with his own inquiry into what happened at the consulate.
"I've been able to read all the cables, I've seen all the films, and I feel like I know what happened in Benghazi," he said. "I'm fairly satisfied. But look, if the House wants to have hearings, I hope they're done in a respectful way, and hopefully, it will shed light on what happened."

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