Northern Colorado Gazette

Contradicts testimony State Department gave before Congress

by Peter Grady –

Following a statement by Joe Biden that the administration had no idea embassy officials were asking for increased security in Libya, despite testimony to the contrary, the White House is now saying Biden was only referring to himself and the President.

During this week’s vice-presidential debate, Biden said, “We weren’t told they wanted more security again. We did not know they wanted more security.”

Biden’s statements directly contradicted sworn statements by State Department officials when they testified before Congress this week. During the testimony, former regional security officer at the U.S. embassy in Libya, Eric Nordstrom, told Congress that security at the embassy was “inappropriately low.” Officials said they expressed their concerns on multiple occasions.

Biden’s remarks prompted Mitt Romney to note Biden is “doubling down on denial” over the Benghzai attacks which left Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans dead.

The vice president directly contradicted the sworn testimony of State Department officials,” Romney said at a campaign rally. “He’s doubling down on denial.”

After Biden was called out for his statement, the White House issued a statement reminiscent of Bill Clinton saying it depends on what the word “is” is, claiming that Biden was simply meaning that Obama and he had not personally been told about the need for more security.

Romney said the administration was offering contradictory statements and it was important to get to the bottom of what really happened.

“When the vice president of the United States directly contradicts the testimony, sworn testimony, of State Department officials, American citizens have a right to know just what’s going on,” Romney said. “And we’re going to find out and this is a time to make sure we do find out.”

Share on Facebook

Tags: Ambassador Chris Stevens, campaign, Congress, debate, Department, Eric Nordstrom, idea, Joe Biden, Libya, Mitt Romney, note, Obama, Peter, Peter Grady, rally, right, security, State Department, week, White House