Sen. Saxby Chambliss on Libya investigation

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We have new information on the hunt for the terrorists responsible for the Libya attack from the top Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee Georgia senator.

Saxby Chambliss joins me now from New York senator thanks for being here.

Get a -- -- -- just before you came on here I don't know if you heard me Catherine Herridge had this report about this Tunisian national -- on the Al are received.

Arrested in Turkey now being held by the two nations one of I guess some two dozen individuals what can you tell us about him and what you -- about the process of track and these people down.

Well unfortunately Brett we don't know very much about him because we have not been able to have access to him and that's one of the problems with the policy of this administration.

We need the Turks did take possession of him but -- weren't prepared let us have any access.

And didn't hand now that they've turned him over to the two nations.

Hold maybe eventually we will but.

At this point in time we've not had access.

What we do know is that he is a member -- and Charles -- And organization within Libya.

That has very close ties to al-Qaeda.

And their leadership we know some of -- have trained in al-Qaeda camps camps in Afghanistan.

So hopefully at some point in the very near future that are FBI's going to be able to have access to them is FDI running point on this.

They are any time we have -- stumble like this even though it happens overseas it's a violation of American law and under our own -- judicial system the FB does take the lead them.

Now it's unfortunate that the FBI's been handicapped.

About the Libyans not letting them have access both to the site and Ben Ghazi.

As well as access to individuals who were involved and yet the -- us.

There's been able to go and have been guys -- they've been able talk freely with some of these individuals who were.

Guards were witnesses of one form or another but.

The administration has not.

Pushed the Libyan government.

To give the FB the kind of access -- really they need.

I guess what we heard from the administration was that it was too dangerous for the FBI was that not the case -- they being held back well Libyans.

Well it's it's not a safe place for sure but we've got planning of guard protection that we can send them there.

Protect the FB and give them the kind of access and it is just as dangerous for.

For American press to be there and yet they are there looking around -- documents and -- and individuals who.

Say they know something about this but unfortunately -- not have that kind of actually write our own -- -- -- was just on the ground giving them a tour that compound you're not happy with how this is gone the hunt for these.

The people who have been.

Who are responsible.

No I and I am not happy and goalies neither with the the way it's proceeded nor the access -- we've been given.

This individual that and is now in the hands of the two nations is a classic example braille.

What happens when you have the lack of a policy of detention and interrogation wants the president.

In January of -- signed the executive order -- and we're gonna shut down Guantanamo.

Then any enemy combatant has this individual videos.

There is no policy in place to.

Take possession of -- man and interrogate him in a way where we can gained valuable information.

Not only that but the fact is stupid doesn't appear to be any effort.

To get our hands on this guy who is one of any number of which we don't even know yet but somewhere around a hundred Don -- fifty.

In all likely -- and of individuals who participated in the attack.

-- I don't -- -- re litigate all the things the administration said when they said it but I do want to ask you this one thing.

You found out within the first 24 hours from the intelligence community that this was.

-- terrorist attack.

Yet we heard from reports over the weekend and -- numerous outlets.

That the president perhaps didn't get a daily brief that said that until September 22.

Is that possible in your frame of mind -- on the intelligence committee how do you process all that.

Well I hope that is not the case we do know that the president -- got a briefing within 44 hours.

Exactly what had happened at that point in time now.

When is the next briefing you got to.

We members of the intelligence committed don't get a daily report on wasn't where the president got a PDB or not.

But these are -- reports are accurate -- I am astonished but go back and tell you.

The members of the House Intelligence Committee members of the Senate Intelligence Committee in a bipartisan way were -- ask him.

Hard and tough questions of the intelligence community on a daily basis and often down more than once today we were demanding to know what went home.

If the president was not been -- then I would be shocked -- that.

I mean you were saying it from the beginning you were here and that it was a military type attack that it was terrorist.

Related and that it was very coordinate.

No question about it and -- unfortunately.

We did not have.

The right kind of intelligence.

To let us know it was gonna happen man nor did we.

Have the right kind of intelligence after it happened -- -- exactly who it was but based on the information we -- we knew pretty quickly.

That it was a planned attack.

And that it was carried out -- terrorists to.

Obviously.

Duo were focused home this particular consulate.

And we can only assume that.

There was an al-Qaeda attack or an al-Qaeda affiliate turns out looks like a -- Was last thing senator only have a few seconds here last night the president said the sequester the defense cuts is not it will not happen.

Today after the debate his top aide David Plouffe said.

-- sequestration.

Should not happen.

We surprised by that backtrack through what the president said and then the back to -- -- -- -- -- the presence that I have been -- along with Lindsey Graham and John McCain Kelly and any number of other Joseph Lieberman.

Out there -- saying that this is foolish to do this summit week.

We simply put a gun to our head and when the president said it was congress admitted give me a break.

The president signed the law and in fact as mr.

Woodward is now say in his book states.

The idea of the sequester came from the administration it came from the White House.

It's a foolish -- but we're stuck where that it is the law and I'm not sure where the presence coming from and saying that.

That sequestration is not gonna happen he's the one that's been saying.

He -- -- he any plan that comes to his desk that seeks to -- sequestration.

-- Janice thank you very much of the time I look forward to have you back off.

Great -- always going to be --

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Sen. Saxby Chambliss on Libya investigation

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