House Benghazi Committee Releases Final Report

The House Select Committee on Benghazi concluded its multi-year investigation into the terrorist attack on the United States Diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya. The attack resulted in the death of U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and U.S. Foreign Service Information Management Officer Sean Smith. After reviewing evidence and conducting countless interviews, the committee released its findings at the end of June.

There has been controversy surrounding the committee since its creation in 2014. Democrats have accused Republicans as using the attacks in Benghazi as a way to harm Hillary Clinton’s presidential aspirations. Its critics point to the endless investigations, many of which concluded before the committee was created in 2014. Because of this, the Republican majority and the Democratic minority of the committee have agreed on little. In fact, they even have separate websites covering the investigation. These divisions were made more apparent when Clinton testified for over 10 hours before the committee in October 2015.

On June 27, the minority members of the committee released their findings in a report led by Representative Elijah Cummings. In the report, the minority members focus on the way the committee has acted and the cost to tax payers for an investigation that ultimately yielded no new findings. They also complained that they were largely left out the process of writing the primary report that was released the next day. The report, which consists of 340 pages, is primarily a criticism of the handling of the investigation by the Republicans on the committee and their limited focus on Clinton.

The Republicans released their final report on June 28, a day after the Democrats. In 869 pages, the committee’s Republicans, led by Representative Trey Gowdy, harshly criticized the State Department, Defense Department, and CIA for failing to fully understand the situation that led to the attack in Benghazi. The report criticizes the delayed action by the Obama administration following the attacks. Overall, the committee failed to find any new evidence that changed the narrative of the attack nor could they prove that Clinton was in any way negligent. Instead, the report largely blames systemic issues for the poor response to the attack.

While the committee is responsible for discovering that Clinton used a private email server as Secretary of State, the findings of the committee largely echo that of an investigations conducted by the State Department in 2012 and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in 2013. During the Senate hearings in January 2013, Clinton accepted full responsibility for the State Department’s failures leading up to and following the attack. She also spoke about security funding that was cut by Congress arguing that those cuts have made United States diplomatic posts less secure around the world and she urged Congress to increase funding to ensure the safety of diplomats.

Since the release of the report early this week, Clinton has been asked for her thoughts. While she has not had much to say, she did offer a comment late this week saying, “I’ll leave it to others to characterize this report, but I think it’s pretty clear it’s time to move on.”

While many agree that it is time to move on, we want to ensure that the report, and every other report released on the Benghazi investigation are fully available to readers in the interest of full transparency. Therefore, we have gathered all the internal investigations and reports into the Benghazi attack into one place. Below, you will find a collection of websites for each the investigative committees as well as a collection of hearings and reports released by Congress and the State Department.

• House Select Committee on Benghazi Majority Website
• House Select Committee on Benghazi Minority Website
• House Republican Investigation of Benghazi Website
• U.S. State Department Accountability Review Board

Date	Investigator	Type
October 10, 2012	House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform	Hearing
November 15, 2012	House Committee on Foreign Affairs (Part 1)	Hearing
November 15, 2012	House Committee on Foreign Affairs (Part 2)	Hearing
December 2012	State Department Accountability Review Board	Report
December 20, 2012	Senate Committee on Foreign Relations	Hearing
January 23, 2013	House Committee on Foreign Affairs	Hearing
February 7, 2013	Senate Committee on Armed Services	Hearing
April 23, 2013	Progress Report by the House Republican Conference	Report
May 8, 2013	House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform	Hearing
September 16, 2013	House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform	Report
September 18, 2013	House Committee on Foreign Affairs	Hearing
September 19, 2013	House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform	Hearing
January 15, 2014	Senate Select Committee on Intelligence	Report
February 7, 2014	House Foreign Affairs Committee	Majority Report
September 17, 2014	House Select Committee on the Events Surrounding the 2012 Terrorist Attacks in Benghazi, Libya	Hearing
January 27, 2015	House Select Committee on the Events Surrounding the 2012 Terrorist Attacks in Benghazi, Libya	Hearing
October 22, 2015	House Select Committee on the Events Surrounding the 2012 Terrorist Attacks in Benghazi, Libya	Hearing
June 27, 2016	House Select Committee on Benghazi	Minority Report
June 28, 2016	House Select Committee on Benghazi	Majority Report

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News Source: The Washington Post, The New York Times, NPR, The New York Times, The Washington Post

Hillary Clinton Campaigns in Los Angeles Area

On Friday, Hillary Clinton held four campaign events in the Los Angeles, California area. Her first event was in Culver City and featured appearances by Elizabeth Banks, Sophia Bush, Michelle Kwan, Debra Messing, Mary Steenburgen, and Sally Field. Each actress took a few minutes to speak about why they supported Clinton. When Clinton took the stage, she stressed the importance of the 2016 election and defeating Republican nominee Donald Trump. Clinton concluded by asking for voters’ support in Tuesday’s primary saying, “Starting next Tuesday, we’re on our way to breaking the highest and hardest glass ceiling.” A video from the event is below.

She then traveled to Westminster where she spoke with supporters at a Get Out the Vote rally. During her speech, she spoke about a number of platform points including expanding health care, passing immigration reform, and lowering the cost of higher education. She continued to go after Trump saying that he has “set a very bad example” for not condemning violence at a number of his rallies. Clinton said that she does not want her supporters to provoke violence, but to be respectful of others. She said, “I don’t think any of this helps anybody.” Clinton went on to criticize a number of Trump’s proposals and comments before asking for voters’ support on June 7.

Clinton met with community leaders in Santa Ana. She gave a brief speech to the supporters present before sitting down with a group of city leaders and business owners to discuss local and national issues. The listening event has been a staple of Clinton’s 2016 campaign, and she has held at least one a day during this trip to California. Topics covered during the event included health care, immigration reform, and a number of other platform topics. A video of Clinton’s speech from the event is below.

The final event of the day was a Get Out the Vote rally in San Bernardino, a city still recovering the December 2015 terror inspired mass shooting. Clinton’s speech focused on national security and her vow to do everything she can to keep America and Americans safe from foreign and domestic threats. She said, “I want you to know from the bottom of my heart I will do whatever I can to protect America and Americans and do whatever I can to support our brave law enforcement, who were there protecting people right in this city.” Clinton discussed a number of other platform points during her 30-minute speech before asking for voters’ support in the state’s primary on Tuesday. A full video of Clinton’s speech is below.

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News Source: The Orange County Register, The Desert Sun, The Wall Street Journal, CBS Los Angeles, US News & World Report

Hillary Clinton Wraps up Three Days of Campaigning in California

On Thursday, Hillary Clinton wrapped up a three day campaign trip to California. She began in Las Vegas, Nevada, however, where she attended the United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW) Legislative and Political Affairs Conference. During her speech, Clinton said that Republican nominee Donald Trump is an urgent threat to workers’ rights. She said, “I’ve heard over and over again there has never been more at stake for working families in America than there is right now.” Clinton spoke about her plans to support labor unions, grow the middle class, and focus on the creation of new jobs. A video from her speech is below.

Clinton then traveled to San Jose where she spoke at an organizing event. She spoke about Trump again and since he is now the Republican nominee as he has secured the required number of delegates, the stakes of the 2016 election could not be higher. She spoke about a number of her platform points including defending women’s rights, fighting for equal pay, raising the minimum wage, continuing to improve the Affordable Care Act, and lowering the cost of higher education. Clinton then asked for voters’ support during the primary on June 7.

Clinton’s final event of the day was a Get Out the Vote event in San Francisco. During the event, Clinton focused on the issues and her platform proposals. She spoke about making college debt free, making community colleges free, raising the minimum wage, investing in clean energy, and continuing to improve the health care system. Clinton went on to explain why the 2016 election is so important and why electing a Democrat is so important. “Our economy does better when we have a Democrat in the White House,” she said. A video from the event will be added when/if available.

Meanwhile, Chelsea Clinton attended a fundraiser on behalf of Hillary for America in New York City.

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News Source: ABC7, Las Vegas Review-Journal, News Times, NBC Bay Area

Hillary Clinton Campaigns in Buena Park and Salinas

Hillary Clinton addresses the crowd Wednesday at UFCW Union Local 324 in Buena Park.
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Hillary Clinton campaigned in California on Wednesday. Her first event was held in Buena Park where she addressed a crowd of supporters at UFCW Union Local 324. After being introduced by actress Jamie Lee Curtis, Clinton spoke about the importance of unity and how she is direct opposition to Republican nominee Donald Trump’s tenancy to divide people. She, again, spoke about the benefit of building bridges instead of walls when working out national issues. She said, “He is scapegoating everyone. That’s good for reality TV. But you’ve got to work with people.” She went on to speak about a number of her platform points including continuing to work to improve health care and bringing down the cost of higher education before asking for voters’ support on June 7.

Clinton also outlined her proposal to rebuild the nations infrastructure. She vowed to implement the plan during her first 100 days in office. The plan includes provisions that will:

• Deliver the most significant increase in infrastructure investment since President Eisenhower built the Interstate Highway System
• Connect every household in America to affordable broadband and lead the world into next-generation wireless
• Develop transportation technology of tomorrow
• Make America the clean energy superpower of the 21st century with a cleaner, smarter, and more resilient electric grid
• Eliminate the chose points of commerce
• Revitalize public schools in every ZIP code and invest in communities being left out and left behind
• Build American airports that are the envy of the world
• Leverage private capital through public-private partnerships and ensure that taxpayer dollars are put to good use

Full details of the plan can be read on The Briefing, and a video of her speech is below.

Clinton then spoke at an organizing event in Salinas. Speaking at Hartnell College, she focused on working with Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform. She argued that the United States is better served welcoming immigrants than working to keep them out. Again, she attacked Trump for his plans to build a wall along the border between the United States and Mexico. Clinton did discuss a number of other platform points before asking for voter’s support in the California primary.

For all the latest, follow our Scheduled Events page and follow Clinton on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

News Source: The Orange County Register, KSBW

Hillary Clinton Kicks Off Three Days of Campaigning in California

On Tuesday, Hillary Clinton attended three events in California with the first being a discussion on foster care in Los Angeles. During the small discussion event, she toured a foster care facility with Representative Karen Bass. She also spoke with a number of families. Clinton then traveled to Commerce where she attended a discussion with working families. The event was held at a local union hall and she criticized Republican nominee Donald Trump during the event for rooting for the housing crisis saying, “He actually said he was hoping for the crash that caused hardworking families in California and across America to lose their homes. All because he thought he could take advantage of it and make some money for himself.”

Clinton’s final event of the day was an organizing event in Riverside. She continued to criticize Trump for a number of his proposals and explained that it is important for everyone to be working together and not incite fear and divisiveness. She spoke about a number of her platform points including continuing to create new jobs, continuing to grow the economy, raising the minimum wage, and expanding health care so 100% of Americans are covered. She concluded by asking for voters’ support during the primary on June 7.

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News Source: KTLA, The Sacramento Bee, The Desert Sun

Bill Clinton Campaigns for Hillary in New Mexico

Bill Clinton attended an organizing event in Espanola, New Mexico before the state’s primary on June 7. Bill spoke to a crowd of supporters about a number of Hillary’s platform points including her plans to combat the growing heroin addiction, the rising cost of prescription drugs, raising the minimum wage, creating new jobs, and fixing the country’s crumbling infrastructure. Bill spoke about Hillary’s experience and her record of getting things done before asking for voters’ support in the upcoming primary. A video from today’s event will be added when/if available.

Chelsea Clinton was also on the campaign trail today speaking with supporters at the Fort Lee Senior Center in New Hampshire. A photo from Chelsea’s Twitter feed is below.

Great crowd at Fort Lee Senior Center! Thanks to all who came for your comments, questions & for supporting my mom https://t.co/JIb4M1NuzE—
Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) May 24, 2016

Earlier in the day, Bill also attended a fundraiser in San Francisco. Also attending a fundraiser on behalf of Hillary for America today was William M. Daley. He attended an event in Chicago, Illinois that was hosted by Adam Hitchcock, Randy Rivera, Kevin Conlon, Lauren Beth Gash, David Anderson, Jon Samuels, Amy Singh, Todd Connor, and Chris Lunningham.

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News Source: KRQE

Bill Clinton Wraps Up Three Days of Campaigning in California

On Monday, Bill Clinton wrapped up a three day stretch on the campaign trail in California. He attended the three organizing events with the first being in Fresno. Speaking at Fresno State, Bill spoke about a number of Hillary’s platform points including her support for a higher minimum wage, comprehensive immigration reform, and continuing to grow the economy by adding new jobs. Speaking to a full student center, Bill asked for their support on June 7 when Californians go to the polls for their primary.

Bill then traveled to Stockton where he spoke to a group of supporters about a number of Hillary’s platform points and the importance of the 2016 election. He criticized presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump’s proposals and asked the crowd an important question, “Do you really think he’s going to be a force in raising working people’s incomes? We gotta do this together.” He went on to talk about Hillary’s important proposals before asking for voters’ support saying, “I ask you to do for Hillary what California did for me – send her into the convention with the wind at her back.”

The final event of the day was at Sacramento State University. Bill continued the theme of speaking about Hillary’s experience and why she is the most qualified for the White House. Bill addressed a number of her platform points including guaranteeing LGBT rights, ensuring equal pay for women, the massive amount of student debt, and expanding health care. A video from today’s events will be added when/if available.

Following the day’s public events, Bill attended a fundraiser in support of Hillary for America. The event was held in Sacramento.

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News Source: ABC 7, The State Hornet, The Fresno Bee

Bill Campaigns in Three States, Hillary Fundraises in Texas

Former President Bill Clinton speaks to a crowd of hundreds of people during an appearance at Rheault Farm in Fargo, North Dakota, on Friday, May 20, 2016.
Nick Wagner / The Forum

On Friday, Bill Clinton campaigned for Hillary Clinton in three states that hold their primaries in June. He began in Sioux Falls, South Dakota where he spoke to a group of supporters. During his speech, Bill focused on Hillary’s plans to keep moving America forward and making the country work for everyone, not just those at the top. Criticizing a point made by Republican nominee Donald Trump, Bill said that as a country, we should be building bridges and partnerships, not building walls. He concluded by asking for voters’ support in the upcoming primary on June 7 saying, “South Dakota has been good to her and to our family. If you believe we can make a future and we can all ride up on the elevator together, she’s your candidate.” While in Sioux Falls, Bill also attended a fundraiser hosted by Hon. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, Brendan Johnson, Adam Weiland, Rick Weiland, and Stacy Weiland.

Bill then traveled to Fargo, North Dakota where he spoke about how he recalled visiting Grand Forks as president after a flood in 1997 and how the local, state, and federal government worked together to ensure the city recovered. He said, “Grand Forks – it’s a metaphor for how America ought to work.” Bill argued that Hillary has the same attitude about her proposals and that she is the best candidate for president because she has a long career of getting things done. He said that the 2016 election will have long reaching affects and that it is important to elect a “doer”. Bill also addressed a number of Hillary’s platform points including health care and ensuring students graduate college debt free.

Bill’s final event of the day was an organizing event in Billings, Montana. He told the crowd the crowd at the local middle school that Hillary had the experience requires to keep America growing and healthy. He focused on jobs and the economy as that is something many Americans are still concerned about. He said, “Look at America. We’re doing better than any other big economy in the world. We’re growing faster, and we’ve created 15 million jobs in the last five years. That’s the most since that last Democrat was president, whatever his name was.” He went on to day that there was still work to be done and Hillary was the person to continue that work. Videos from today’s events will be added when/if available.

Hillary, meanwhile, attended two fundraisers in Texas. The first was in Dallas an was held at the home of Lisa Blue. The second event was in Austin. The event was hosted by Mayor Steve Adler and Diane Land and included performances by Ben Kweller and Kelly Willis and Bruce Robison.

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News Source: NBC Montana, Argus Leader, Sioux City Journal, Inforum

Bill, Chelsea Campaign for Hillary in New Jersey

On Friday, Bill Clinton campaigned on behalf of Hillary in New Jersey. Speaking to a crowd of supporters at Passaic County Community College in Paterson, Bill was confronted by a small group of protestors, but he turned his focus to Hillary’s platform and how her plans focus on “bridge-building, not wall building.” He criticized presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump for his rhetoric, and argued that it was better for everyone to work together to achieve our shared goals. He said, “We need the good freedom-loving, terror-hating Muslim-Americans to help us to lead the fight. We gotta live together and be citizens, together. We gotta protect everybody’s rights: Religious rights, women’s rights, voting rights and labor rights. We gotta prove to that we can do this together.”

Bill then traveled to Ewing Township where he spoke at the College of New Jersey. He, again, spoke about Trump and his plans to shut the borders of the United States to outsiders. Bill argued that does not work because of modern technology and social media. He said that we have to have a multi-front strategy that includes the internet. He said, “San Bernadino, our latest terrorist incident, was because of people converted over the Internet. America desperately needs its Muslims who love freedom and hate terror and want to be a part of this country.” Videos from today’s events will be posted when/if available.

Continually grateful for the enthusiastic support of @SEIU. Thanks for joining me today in Bloomfield! https://t.co/XXsXBaZELG—
Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) May 13, 2016

Chelsea Clinton also attended two events in New Jersey. She took part in the opening of Hillary for America office in Metuchen and Bloomfield. At each event, she addressed local supporters and volunteers who came out for the event. Chelsea spoke about the importance of the 2016 election and why Hillary is best qualified for the White House. She thanked everyone for their support and asked for their vote on June 7.

Hillary, meanwhile, was in California where she spoke to CBS San Francisco. During the exclusive interview, she spoke about her platform and plans should she become president. She was asked about Trump a number of times, and she expressed her concern saying, “I’ve never seen a candidate like Donald Trump; that’s fair. And I’ve never seen so much concern – even in his own party – by Republicans about their nominee.” She also spoke about the importance of immigration reform, the need to upgrade the country’s infrastructure, and her thoughts on legalized marijuana. A full video of the interview can be viewed HERE.

Two California fundraisers were held on behalf of Hillary for America. The first was in San Francisco and focused on LGBT issues. The conversation featured Robby Mook, Campaign Manager; Teddy Goff, Chief Digital and Technology Strategist; and David Plouffe, Campaign Manager, Obama 2008. The second event was held in Santa Monica and was hosted by Roberta Conroy, Ashley Kennedy and Rosezetta Cummings, Claire Lucas and Judy Dlugacz, Andrea Meyerson, and Valerie Ploumpis. The event featured a conversation with Senator Tammy Baldwin, Lily Tomlin, Meredith Baxter, Suzanne Westenhoefer, Stephanie Miller, and Billie Jean King.

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News Source: CBS SFBayArea, Woodbridge Patch, NJ.com, Politico, Philadelphia Inquirer

Hillary Clinton Campaigns in New Jersey

On Wednesday, Hillary Clinton held a campaign rally in Backwood, New Jersey where she focused on the November election and the presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump. She called Trump “reckless” and “dangerous” and criticized his divisive rhetoric. Clinton, speaking at Camden County College, she spoke about a number of her platform points and called out Republicans who have criticized her husband’s record as president. She said, “I’m really proud of that record and I’ll tell you what, if Republicans want to criticize it I’m going to ask them, what are they criticizing, the peace or the prosperity?” New Jersey holds its primary on June 7. A video from the event is below.

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News Source: NJ.com