WASHINGTON (AP) - Congress' multiple investigations of the deadly 2012 attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, have cost the Pentagon millions of dollars and thousands of hours of personnel time, according to the department.
In a March 11 letter, the Pentagon outlined its cooperation with six investigations of the Sept. 11 assault that killed four Americans, including U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens, and its response to repetitive requests for information from about 50 congressional hearings, briefings and interviews.
The letter was in response to a request by Rep. Adam Smith of Washington state, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, who questioned the ongoing investigations in light of cuts to the military budget and reports, some written by Republicans, largely clearing the military of any wrongdoing.
"The total cost of compliance with Benghazi-related congressional requests sent to the department and other agencies is estimated to be in the millions of dollars," the Pentagon said.
For example, retired Gen. Carter Ham, the former commander of U.S. Africa Command, has briefed or testified before congressional panels five times over two years, and yet both the Armed Services Committee and House Oversight and Government Reform has asked Ham to submit to additional interviews.
Congressional Republicans have been relentless in investigating the attack, arguing that the Obama administration misled the American people about a terror attack during the heat of the presidential campaign. The GOP is determined to press ahead, especially since the assault on the mission occurred during Hillary Rodham Clinton's tenure as secretary of state.