Gregory Hicks, former deputy chief of mission in Libya, sat down with George Stephanopoulos on ABC’s This Week yesterday, to talk about what has transpired in the year since the terrorist attacks on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya that left four Americans dead. Hicks, who is now considered a whistleblower, explained how his life has changed since the attacks and why he believes more could have been done to save American lives.
“So we also have the Benghazi whistleblower,” Glenn said on radio this morning. “Now, here's where the government actually is prosecuting people and coming after people.”
On Fox News Sunday, Chris Wallace was unable to get White House chief of staff Denis McDonough to explain why the U.S. has failed to apprehend the man charged in connection with the Benghazi attacks – Ahmed Abu Khattala – one year after the tragedy. But over on ABC, the Benghazi whistleblower Hicks explained how his life has been turned upside down since testifying about what really happened last September 11.
Watch the entire interview HERE.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Since then it appears there's been something of career limbo inside the State Department.
HICKS: That's correct, that's true.
STEPHANOPOULOS: The State Department says this was an assignment you requested. You're getting the same pay as before, but do you feel you're being punished for speaking out?
HICKS: Yes, I feel that I have been punished. I don't know why I was punished. I don't know why I was shoved aside, put in a closet, if you will.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Does the State Department know you're speaking out now?
HICKS: No, they don't know I'm here with you.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Then why talk?
HICKS: Because the American people need to have the story, and Ambassador Chris Stevens, Sean Smith, Ty Woods and Glen Doherty's names are names that should be remembered by every American for the sacrifices that they made.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Could those four American heroes been saved?
HICKS: Sadly I think that Ambassador Stevens and Sean Smith, maybe not. Ty and Glen of course were killed in the mortar attacks that took place eight hours after the initial attack. It's possible they could have been saved.
“Okay. So why were they killed,” Glenn asked. “Now, Chris Wallace is talking about, ‘You guys said it was this guy. I don't know if you've seen this, but he's wearing a target on his chest and apparently some sort of an ankle bracelet that will give you his GPS coordinates at all times, and you guys haven't found him yet.’ ‘Well, government's going to do what the government says it's going to do. And, of course, we are looking for the truth behind everything.’ Well, here's some new news: The Benghazi whistleblower – he says he's in trouble.”
Given the sharp contrast between McDonough’s reasoning on Fox News and Hick’s testimony to Stephanopoulos, one has to question the administration’s priorities (or lack thereof) when it comes to Benghazi.
