While taking questions from reporters after a press conference announcing that the House Select Committee on Benghazi had released its final report, South Carolina Rep. Trey Gowdy revealed something exceptional about Ambassador Chris Stevens that was worth noting.
When a reporter asked Gowdy if, during his investigation, he was able to “get into” Steven’s mind regarding the American presence in Benghazi, Gowdy replied with an answer that summed up the definition of a hero.
Gowdy responded first by saying that he wanted to be clear that everyone understood how much Stevens loved the people of Libya and, in particular, the people of Benghazi.
Watch the press conference here:
He went on to say that the heroism Stevens showed by going into Libya as an envoy was a level of valor, heroism, and commitment to this country that every American should know about.
Gowdy also said that when Stevens arrived in Libya on Sept. 10, he had no idea how bad things were regarding the state of security. He then encouraged the reporter (and everyone else) to read Stevens’ diary entry along with the email he sent to a British diplomat to get an idea of Stevens’ state of mind.
In short, Americans were not safe in Benghazi and the environment had deteriorated so much that security was the main thing on his mind, the congressman said.
Gowdy painted a portrait of a man who valiantly put the lives and safety of others before his own.
He went on to say that the heroism Stevens showed by going into Libya as an envoy was a level of valor, heroism, and commitment to this country that every American should know about.