Republicans spend hour of 2016 convention on 2012 Benghazi attack

Mark Geist and John Tiegen of the Benghazi Annex Security Team speak at Republican National Convention

(Image credit: Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images)

last updated 19 July 2016

After an emotional introduction by Pat Smith, the mother of one of four Americans killed in the Sept. 11, 2012, terrorist attack on Benghazi, Libya, the Republican National Convention played a video of people recapping the attack, then brought out two of the members of the team that fought in the attack, Mark Geist and John Tiegan. The two recounted their harrowing night, at great length and apparently without a teleprompter. They, like Smith, blamed Hillary Clinton for not protecting the Americans at the U.S. diplomatic outpost in Benghazi, then ended their sometimes jocular tale with a call to vote for Donald Trump: "Every fallen veteran has done their part. Now you do yours."

Republicans apparently think the Benghazi attack still has some real political resonance.

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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.