What do Republicans want to prove with Benghazi?

A newly released email has added fuel to the Benghazi-gate conflagration. But where does this end?

Graham
(Image credit: (Alex Wong/Getty Images))

Earlier this week, the White House released some documents relating to its response to the Sept. 11, 2012, attack on the U.S. diplomatic outpost in Benghazi, Libya. It was compelled to do so by a Freedom of Information Act request from the conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) called one of the documents — an email from Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes — the "smoking gun" Republicans have long sought.

But smoking guns are evidence of a crime. What crime did the Obama administration commit, legally speaking or otherwise? Rhodes' Sept. 14, 2012, email has the subject line "RE: PREP CALL with Susan," regarding a scheduled appearance by Susan Rice, then U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, on Sunday talk shows three days later. Here are the talking points that have Republicans excited:

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.