Sen. Graham on Benghazi, Hagel nomination

This transcript is automatically generated

At Carolina senator Lindsey Graham has been leading the effort to find out more about what happened the night of September 11 in Libya he joins us now here on sets -- Graham welcome.

Thank you.

There seem to be a lot of things that you're still trying to find the answer to the president today said in Google hang out.

That -- there are and I'm not quoting here but he said it seems they're running out of questions to ask.

Paraphrasing what he said.

Your response to that on this.

I've destroyed a small for us trying to get the president and account for his leadership and the knowledge about Ben Ghazi and have gotten one question answered -- probably sent thirty.

Here's a good question the man released in Tunisia do you think we had anything on him or not because the reason I intervened.

To sit at the FBI interviews as I was -- RF BI that this is a leading suspect in the attack on the consulate.

Why did I have to do this.

Mr.

President why did you call the Tunisian government Mr.

President when the average investor was attacked in June of this year and they decide to close their consulate.

Did you know about it and money we keep -- open.

There we just scratching the service of questions this White House -- Stonewall delayed and denied since nothing could be further from the truth about us.

Not a running out of questions what is true is he won't -- you did have some answers that one.

And what was that I asked him did you ever pick up the phone McConnell Libyan official on September 11 during the attack.

And he says after a two page letter from his lawyer no.

Personally -- leaving government officials the next day and night of 12 September after they were -- The point is that there rescue team has held up the good thing Gaza airport for three and a half hours trying to get to the -- to help these people.

And I've always believed -- the president picked up the phone there's no force in the world like that the president United States estimated difference.

He never calls anybody in Libya he never talked to secretary defense.

Other than fifteen minutes.

An initial.

-- you know assessment.

He didn't talk to Brennan.

He didn't talk to Jack -- he didn't talk to density and Panetta during the evening he never called and said.

How are we doing how close are -- -- there as far as I can tell he was completely disengaged.

And when he turned to Romney in the third debate and basically say passing these people in harm's way.

I know their families -- lending us all believe he was hands on and quite frankly seems to me that he was incredibly detached.

You know but you know what I want to listen to exactly what the president said today on this on this topic.

You regarding bad guys in the -- This is the most transparent administration in history there are a handful of issues mostly around national security.

Where people have a legitimate questions where they're still concerned.

About whether or not we have all the information we need -- -- by the way is not a good example of that that.

Was largely driven by campaign stuff because everything about that we've had more testimony.

And more paper provided to congress than ever before and congress is sort of running out of things to ask.

And I I do want to play again.

Hillary Clinton from her testimony we've we've heard this before but -- Just listen again I want you to react to it.

With all due respect the fact is we have four dead Americans what I'd putt that -- protest it was a because of guys out for a walk -- -- -- decide they don't kill some Americans.

What difference at this point does it make it is our job to figure out what happened and do everything we -- to prevent it from ever happening again.

So when you sit here and here you listen to folks and they say why is this important -- why are you doing this why is it important today.

Why are you holding up this nomination -- potentially Brennan's nomination.

Why well I hope the next president when there's an attack on -- letter of foreign.

Emergency national security instant that they'll pick up the phone because they remember what happened when Obama didn't.

And Senator Obama and Senator Clinton had no problem trying to figure out how we failed in Iraq.

Did it mattered to go back and investigate the bush administration's interrogation techniques.

I think it did and I'm joined them did it matter to question our policy and -- Iraq.

After it was failing.

That the point to -- -- you have afforded Americans you've got a commander in chief who is absolutely disengaged.

He got the sectors state never -- the secretary defense.

You've got ample evidence of a national security nightmare in the making.

He's got the secretary of state not knowing her own investor we're sending cables to her department saying we can't defend the consulate.

In case of a coordinated attack in August this the secretary of fans know about secretary of state didn't how could that day.

And who changed the talking points how could the president of the United States.

Go to the American people for three weeks along with Susan Rice five days after the attack and say.

We believe there's no evidence of a coordinated pre planned terrorist attack when your secretary defense testified before the congress they knew that night.

I think they manipulated the intelligence and evidence close to an election.

To create a narrative that bin Laden was dead al-Qaeda is dismantled were all safe.

Coming with Susan Rice an -- the president said about this being a video that created a spontaneous advance to live to ride now Qaeda wasn't involved.

Was a misleading effort by this administration it matters.

When the top government officials in this country sponsor for a national security mislead you.

Have you heard about any survivors.

And telling their -- -- do you know anything about oh I don't know who they are and the FBI interviews two days after the attack in Germany we still has a congress do not have the FA FBI interviews.

The best evidence of what happened that night with -- -- they will not give the United States congress the F back FBI interviews.

The survivors.

We've been told five different versions of who changed the talking points.

This is not transparent they're delaying they're denying they're deceiving they ran out the clock during the election how will not give up until we know what happened.

And die at the end of the day is about four dead Americans in the way this president handle this situation is national security team.

Is a travesty and we need to get the bottom of it and we will we'll -- you get approved.

I have unless there's a bombshell he'll -- -- up or down vote I hope one Democrat we'll look at chuck -- records and some of the outrageous statements he's made.

About the State of Israel and reconsider and have one Democrat vote no he could -- when Democrat who vote no the floodgates would open but I don't now.

Okay senator thanks will continue to follow and keep.

Watch Live

Sen. Graham on Benghazi, Hagel nomination

Details

Clips

Editor's Picks

Did IRS target the Wisconsin Tea Party?

Are Americans following the White House scandals?

Grapevine: IRS scandal takes down a commencement speaker

Gap in key White House evidence on Benghazi

The answers to your questions on 'The Five's' Facebook Friday

Gutfeld: When it comes to the media, there's no there there

Trump's advice for dealing with Washington scandals

Obama pushing spending amid scandals

Jerusalem mayor on Russia's role in Syrian conflict

OJ Simpson's former attorney takes the witness stand

Dems blaming GOP for blocking security funds in Benghazi

Republican lawmaker grills outgoing IRS commissioner

Transcript

Recommended