Conservative Rally Will Urge Congress to Continue Benghazi Inquiry

A conservative group is to hold a rally on the West Lawn of the Capitol on Wednesday in remembrance of those who died in the terrorist attack on the U.S. mission in Benghazi, Libya, a year ago and to urge Congress not to let up on its investigation.

Hosted by Patriots4America, the rally is expected to highlight what the group called "the blatant lack of transparency by the Obama administration" in disclosing information about the attack.

A number of conservative Republicans critical of the administration's handling of the
Benghazi attack are scheduled to speak, including Reps. Steve Stockman of Texas, Paul Broun of Georgia, Louie Gohmert of Texas, former Nevada senate candidate Sharon Angle, and TeaParty.net CEO Todd Cefaratti.

Meanwhile, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa told the Hill that he plans to schedule another hearing on Benghazi as part of his continuing effort to find out what happened that night a year ago when U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans were killed.

The California Republican on Tuesday threatened to subpoena survivors of the attack if Secretary of State John Kerry fails by Sept. 24 to sign off on allowing them to testify before the committee.

"The survivors of the attacks are the only people who can give testimony to the committee about what happened on the ground in Benghazi," Issa wrote in a letter to Kerry.

Benghazi still is a sensitive issue among Republicans, so much so that three House members raised the issue with Kerry during his appearance last week on Capitol Hill to present the administration's case against Syria for reportedly using chemical weapons.

Republicans believe the administration initially failed to adequately secure the U.S. outpost in Benghazi and then failed to respond militarily after the attack began.

"I can't discuss the possibility of the U.S. involvement in Syria's civil war without also talking about Benghazi," Rep. Jeff Duncan of South Carolina told Kerry at one hearing.

"The administration has a serious credibility issue with the American people due to the unanswered questions surrounding the terrorist attack in Benghazi almost a year ago."

Many Republicans are frustrated by House Speaker John Boehner's refusal to create a special panel to investigate the Benghazi attack. Boehner, however, continues to insist that the existing House committees investigating the attack can get the job done.

"Our committees will press forward with their investigation until we have answers and full accountability," Boehner told the House Republican Conference on Tuesday.