Virginian Pilot - Rigell Co-Sponsors Bill Seeking Benghazi Investigation

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By Mike Connors

U.S. Rep. Scott Rigell has co-sponsored a bill calling for a House committee to investigate the 2012 Libya attack that killed a U.S. ambassador.

The Sept. 11 terrorist attack at a U.S. Consulate in Benghazi killed U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and three others, including two former Navy SEALs. An independent panel that investigated the attack late last year found that failures at the State Department led to inadequate security in Benghazi.

Rigell's bill calls for a select committee to investigate several issues surrounding the attack, including: any requests for additional security beforehand; how federal agencies responded and whether appropriate congressional notifications were made; any improper conduct by officials; and what Congress and the President can do to prevent future attacks.

"I join my colleagues, and our friends and neighbors across America in demanding answers from the Administration on its slow response to the attacks on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya." Rigell said in a news release. "It has been nearly seven months since this horrible tragedy occurred and we owe the American people, the victims and their families, and our men and women in uniform, a full investigation of this tragedy."

The bill was introduced by U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf, a fellow Republican from Virginia. It has more than 80 co-sponsors.

Rigell's district includes Virginia Beach, the Eastern Shore and parts of Norfolk, Hampton and Newport News.

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