adminSenators John McCain, Lindsey Graham and Kelly Ayotte met behind closed doors with Rice for about an hour and said they were still troubled by her responses to their questions about her early comments following the September 11, 2012, attack that killed the US ambassador to Libya and three other Americans.
Rice is considered a possible contender for secretary of state in President Barack Obama’s second term, a position that would require Senate confirmation.
Republicans have attacked Rice for appearing on TV talk shows shortly after the September 11 attack on the US diplomatic mission in Benghazi and saying that preliminary information suggested the assault was the result of protests over an anti-Muslim film rather than a premeditated attack.
Rice said last week that her comments about the attack were based squarely on information provided to her by the intelligence community.
The presence of Morell in the meetings is likely meant to give weight to that assertion.
President Barack Obama’s nominee for the position must be confirmed by the Senate to take the job.
Democrats have a majority in the Senate, but Republicans could block his choice. The US ambassador to Libya, Christopher Stevens, and three other Americans were killed in the attack. — Reuters
Online Reporter