Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA) announced Monday that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton would testify before the committee on January 23 to answer questions about the September 11, 2012 terrorist attack on U.S. diplomatic facilities in Benghazi, Libya.
Americans killed in the attack were Ambassador Chris Stevens, Sean Smith, Tyrone Woods, and Glen Doherty. In a press statement Royce said of the upcoming hearing:
I appreciate Secretary Clinton’s desire and willingness to testify before the Committee as we continue to examine this deadly terrorist attack in an effort to ensure that nothing like it happens again. My intention is for this hearing to focus on why this attack was not better anticipated, what leadership failures at the State Department existed, and what management deficiencies need to be corrected in order to better secure our diplomatic facilities abroad and protect our diplomats serving in them. It is important to learn all we can about what happened in Benghazi because at the end of the day, it could happen again. After all, al-Qaeda plans attacks over and over again.
The House Foreign Affairs Committee had two prior hearings on November 15 and December 20 that also looked into the Benghazi attacks. Secretary Clinton was due at the December 20 hearing but could not testify at the last moment due to ill health. Deputy Secretary William J. Burns and Deputy Secretary for Management and Resources Thomas R. Nides testified before the Committee during those dates.