Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, announced that on Wednesday, Sept. 18, he will convene a hearing on accountability within the State Department following the deadly terrorist attacks on the U.S. diplomatic facilities in Benghazi, Libya last September 11. Under Secretary of State for Management Patrick F. Kennedy will testify.
The State Department’s Accountability Review Board (ARB) found that “systemic failures and leadership and management deficiencies" resulted in a security posture that was “grossly inadequate to deal with the attack that took place" at Benghazi on 9/11. Last year, amid sharp criticism of the Department’s handling of security issues, four employees were placed on paid “administrative leave." The Department recently announced that these four have been reassigned to new positions within the Department. This hearing will examine why no one inside the State Department has yet been held accountable for the failures and deficiencies identified.
What.
Hearing: Benghazi: Where is the State Department Accountability?
When.
10 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2013
(see press RSVP information below)
Where.
2172 Rayburn House Office Building
***Live video feed available
Witness.
The Honorable Patrick F. Kennedy
Under Secretary for Management
U.S. Department of State
**Important planning note for press covering hearing**
The hearing will be webcast at foreignaffairs.house.gov.
The hearing room likely will not be able to accommodate all members of the media wishing to cover the hearing from the press viewing area.
Only Congressionally credentialed members of the media will be allowed access to the press viewing area in the committee hearing room and must RSVP to their respective Press Gallery by noon on Tuesday, September 17.
All television crews must RSVP to the House Radio TV Gallery at 202-225-5214.
Gallery contact information.
House Radio/TV Gallery: 202-225-5214
House Periodical Gallery: 202-225-2941
House Daily Press Gallery: 202-225-3945
Photographer Gallery: 202-224-6548.
