Three more officials to testify over Benghazi attacks [View all]

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Source: CBS

As the deputy chief of mission for the U.S. in Libya, Gregory Hicks was on the ground at the U.S. Embassy in Tripoli on September 11, 2012, when terrorists launched two attacks on American compounds in Benghazi.

Hicks and two other government officials have been named as witnesses for a Congressional hearing Wednesday before the House Oversight Committee. The others are: Eric Nordstrom, the former lead security official for the State Department in Libya, and Mark Thompson, the acting deputy assistant secretary for counterterrorism at the State Department. Other so-called "whistleblowers" from federal agencies, including the CIA, have provided information to Congressional investigators, but are said to be unwilling - so far - to speak publicly because they aren't authorized by their agencies to do so. Some claim fear of retaliation.

It's been a remarkably long period of silence from the dozens of American survivors and eyewitnesses who were in Libya the night of the attacks. It's not publicly known what testimony the witnesses will give at this week's hearing, but in a series of interviews and communications, CBS News has obtained information about some of areas of knowledge the witnesses can address.

Hicks was number two to Ambassador Christopher Stevens, who was killed in the attacks. With Stevens in Benghazi on September 11, Hicks was the top Foreign Service official at the U.S. Embassy in Tripoli. When the first U.S. compound in Benghazi fell under attack, Hicks reportedly took the frantic call.

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57582948/three-more-officials-to-testify-over-benghazi-attacks/

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Fox News first reported their names yesterday, and this is the first non right wing source I could find about this story. See also Bloomberg News "U.S. Official Saw Benghazi Attack as Not Spontaneous" quoting Hicks: “I thought it was a terrorist attack from the get-go. I never reported a demonstration; I reported an attack on the consulate.”

However, some claims made by anonymous sources to Fox have been called into question such as the claim that special forces could've swooped in.

CBS Evening News report about Hicks's claim:

Rep. Darrell Issa on Face the Nation responds:

Issa also called Susan Rice's talking points a "political decision"...never mind how CIA documents supported Susan Rice's description of Benghazi attacks...