Last week, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) held an open hearing entitled “Benghazi Talking Points and Michael J. Morell’s Role in Shaping the Administration’s Narrative.” Michael Morell is the former CIA Deputy Director and was recalled to testify on his role in altering the talking points on the September 11, 2012 attack on the U.S. facilities in Benghazi that took the lives of four Americans. Mr. Morell has testified twice before HPSCI in closed hearings, and this was his first time testifying in an opening hearing.

Mr. Morell confirmed the alteration of the word “attack” to “demonstration” and the removal of “Al Qaeda,” both of which dramatically change the tone of the talking points from a coordinated attack to a violent reaction to a protest, and I questioned Mr. Morell on these edits.

What we heard from Mr. Morell is that important and widespread information was based on incomplete and poor judgment. The alteration and removal of certain key words significantly changed the narrative of what happened. Mr. Morell knew this was not a protest, yet the talking points were altered and approved to seem like it was. We don’t know why it was done or in whose best interest, but it certainly wasn’t the American peoples.

Combined with my efforts as Chairman of the HPSCI Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, HPSCI will continue their investigation into the attacks until those who were involved have been held responsible.