CNN: Dozens of CIA Operatives in Benghazi During Attacks
Thursday, 01 Aug 2013 06:47
PM
By
Todd Beamon
There allegedly were dozens of CIA operatives on the ground
during the attacks on the U.S. Consulate in Libya on Sept. 11, 2012, CNN
reported Thursday.
And the spy agency is doing everything it can to conceal its involvement, the network reports.
According to sources cited by CNN, some CIA operatives who were involved in the Benghazi mission have been polygraphed every month since January to determine whether anyone might be talking to Congress or the media.
Latest: Is Benghazi a Cover Up? Is Obama at the Heart of It? Vote Here
The sources described the efforts to CNN as pure intimidation — even threats to end the careers of unauthorized leakers.
"You have no idea the amount of pressure being brought to bear on anyone with knowledge of this operation," one source told CNN.
"You don't jeopardize yourself, you jeopardize your family as well," another told the network.
U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans died in the Benghazi attacks.
Many Capitol Hill Republicans – particularly Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, John McCain of Arizona, and Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire – have repeatedly charged that the Obama White House, the State Department, and other federal agencies have barred those who worked in Benghazi during the attacks from testifying before Congress.
But CIA spokesman Dean Boyd told CNN in a statement that the agency "has worked closely with [Congress’s] oversight committees" and that "CIA employees are always free to speak to Congress if they want."
He added the agency was unaware of any retaliation against any employee, or of any employees being prevented from "sharing a concern with Congress about the Benghazi incident."
One source told CNN that 35 Americans were at the Benghazi mission, and as many as seven were wounded in the attack, some seriously.
Another said 21 were working in the "annex" building, which is believed to have been run by the CIA and to which Americans fled after the State Department's diplomatic installation was attacked.
The CIA also has declined to comment on speculation that U.S. agencies in Benghazi were moving portable surface-to-air missiles out of Libya, through Turkey, and into the hands of Syrian rebels.
The State Department has denied that any of its employees were involved in such an operation, saying they were only helping the new Libyan government to secure such weapons within the country, CNN reports.
And the spy agency is doing everything it can to conceal its involvement, the network reports.
According to sources cited by CNN, some CIA operatives who were involved in the Benghazi mission have been polygraphed every month since January to determine whether anyone might be talking to Congress or the media.
Latest: Is Benghazi a Cover Up? Is Obama at the Heart of It? Vote Here
The sources described the efforts to CNN as pure intimidation — even threats to end the careers of unauthorized leakers.
"You have no idea the amount of pressure being brought to bear on anyone with knowledge of this operation," one source told CNN.
"You don't jeopardize yourself, you jeopardize your family as well," another told the network.
U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans died in the Benghazi attacks.
Many Capitol Hill Republicans – particularly Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, John McCain of Arizona, and Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire – have repeatedly charged that the Obama White House, the State Department, and other federal agencies have barred those who worked in Benghazi during the attacks from testifying before Congress.
But CIA spokesman Dean Boyd told CNN in a statement that the agency "has worked closely with [Congress’s] oversight committees" and that "CIA employees are always free to speak to Congress if they want."
He added the agency was unaware of any retaliation against any employee, or of any employees being prevented from "sharing a concern with Congress about the Benghazi incident."
One source told CNN that 35 Americans were at the Benghazi mission, and as many as seven were wounded in the attack, some seriously.
Another said 21 were working in the "annex" building, which is believed to have been run by the CIA and to which Americans fled after the State Department's diplomatic installation was attacked.
The CIA also has declined to comment on speculation that U.S. agencies in Benghazi were moving portable surface-to-air missiles out of Libya, through Turkey, and into the hands of Syrian rebels.
The State Department has denied that any of its employees were involved in such an operation, saying they were only helping the new Libyan government to secure such weapons within the country, CNN reports.
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