Rubio: Senate hearing on Libyan terrorist attack should have come sooner

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) said Thursday that it’s about time the Senate Select Intelligence Committee scheduled a hearing on the recent terrorist attack in Libya.

“I'm glad the Senate Intelligence Committee will finally get a chance to investigate this matter, but the truth is this hearing should have been held weeks ago,” Rubio said in a statement Thursday.

Chairwoman Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) announced earlier Thursday that the committee would hold a hearing on the attack that killed four Americans, including U.S ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens, on Nov. 15.

Rubio said the hearing should have come sooner, since the attack was on Sept. 11, 2012.

“By the time it takes place, two full months will have passed since the September 11th terrorist attack on our consulate in Libya,” Rubio said. “That's way too long for the Senate to ask the important questions that have been building up.”

Republicans have criticized the Obama administration for sending mixed signals about the attack and not doing enough to protect the consulate that was attacked in Benghazi.

“For over six weeks, the American people have been troubled by mixed information and claims from the Obama administration on this attack, and it's important that we get to the bottom of how this attack was possible and what caused all these mixed messages,” Rubio said. “Our diplomatic corps deserve to know that their safety is paramount and that their colleagues in Benghazi won't be forgotten."

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