U.S. Senator Pat Roberts today released the following statement regarding the emotional testimony before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform by three whistleblowers regarding the attacks on the U.S. Consulate and Annex in Benghazi, Libya.

“I applaud these three public servants who came forward with their firsthand accounts of attacks in Benghazi on September 11, 2012. Their firsthand experience during the attack and their frustration with the Administration’s bungled response and subsequent cover-up of the circumstances surrounding the murder of four Americans is the closest to the truth we have seen to date.

“The Administration and the Congress should not consider this case closed. No one has been arrested in connection with the murders of four Americans. We need a more thorough investigation of the actions that led to their deaths and why we still can’t get it right with regard to the truth following the attacks. Given the time passed, the Administration’s distortions and that we must rely on whistleblowers, I am very concerned we may never know the full truth.

“According to the witnesses, State Department employees with firsthand knowledge of the attacks were not even interviewed by the Department’s Accountability Review Board. Why is that? What else have they missed? What does that say about the reforms the State Department has put in place to protect Americans based on recommendations of the Board’s report? Why were these witnesses told not to speak to members of a Congressional delegation investigating the attacks without other State Department officials present? Why were they muzzled?

“Today’s testimony further proves that not only did we have a cover-up of major mistakes and failures to protect Americans serving our nation in harm’s way, but now we have learned that we can’t trust the investigation the State Department conducted to determine lessons learned.

“I deeply regret the precedent this sets for those who serve our nation in harm’s way. The continued dissembling and evasions by this Administration on the Benghazi attacks are undermining our national security by shaking the faith Americans have that the full force of the American government is behind them should they find themselves in trouble protecting our nation.

“Secretary Clinton once asked, what difference does it make? It makes a difference to every single Marine, soldier, sailor, airmen, and diplomat who has risked his or her life in defense of our freedom.”

Senator Roberts is the most senior Marine in the Congress. He is a former Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.