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Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Clinton’s “Diplomatic Illness” Shouldn’t Stop Benghazi Testimony


Former United Nations Ambassador John Bolton suggested Monday that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is  trying to avoid testifying about the attack on the U.S. mission in Benghazi, Libya, by coming down with what he called “a diplomatic illness.”
Clinton was scheduled to testify this week before a House panel and to present an independent report on the incident. The report, which she received on Monday, will still be presented to congressional leaders in a closed door session Wednesday. But the secretary won’t be there because of a concussion she suffered during a fainting spell this past weekend brought on by the flu.
“I think she will have to testify at some point,” Bolton told Fox News’ Greta Van Susteren Monday evening, suggesting that her illness excuse was somewhat suspect.
“You know, every foreign service officer in every foreign ministry in the world knows the phrase I am about to use. When you don’t want to go to a meeting or conference, or an event, you have a ‘diplomatic illness,’ Bolton told Van Susteren. “And this is a diplomatic illness to beat the band.
“I certainly hope it was nothing serious, but this was revealed in a way that I think was not transparent,” Bolton continued. “And I think there is an obligation here, especially if Secretary Clinton decides to run for president, to indicate what happened. She may not be testifying this week, but she will not escape it forever.”

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