My FNC colleague Kristin Rudman emailed me the rough transcript below:
Dianne Feinstein
18:15:57 I’m here with Vice Chairman Senator Chambliss, very lengthy first inquiry
18:16:07 We had virtually all members of committee there but one
18:16:15 Saw real time film put together by NTCT of what happened, questioned DNI of Intelligence
18:16:39 Kennedy, Ambassador, not going to tell you what was asked or given, first step in inquiry
18:16:56 Meet with Petraeus in morning and then come back with two full hearings and anticipate a public hearing and at that time make our findings that can be unclassified released
18:17:21 Good hearing, gave us idea as to depth and breadth of this and we will continue to do so and plow through this until we have enough information to make findings
Saxby Chambliss
18:17:46 Gosh we know mistakes were made and have to learn from that
18:17:53 Tough questions from today and continue to do that
18:18:01 What was highlighted was professionalism of men and women in intelligence and armed services
18:18:15 Very heroic acts that took place, but lost four Americans and committee is going to get to the bottom of this
18:18:31 At the end of the day we’re going to have a public hearing for American people to have opportunity to get questions answered since 9/11 this year
Dianne Feinstein
18:18:52 Expand, this is a difficult area of the world. People who participate in intelligence and cover this area have great difficulty, different culture, language, etc.
18:19:13 Countries troubled from within, instability so very precipitous situation and on behalf of committee thank them
18:19:30 Doing best they can and not the days of KGB CIA intelligence, it’s a whole new world and difficult one
18:19:45 Very much appreciate their service and easy to criticize and hard to be out there
Q&A
Feinstein
18:20:12 No, I think I can’t help you with timeline. Film is a composite from a number of sources. Real time, begins before incident started and goes through incident and exodus
18:20:36 I don’t think I should say anymore at this time
18:20:47 I’m not going to comment
18:21:00 Director Petraeus went to Tripoli, interviewed many of people so opportunity to get his views is important
18:21:17 I think and this is not to criticize people today, and we had a good back and forth and not the easiest thing for everybody testifying
18:21:34 Learned a great deal
18:21:45 No position to comment on that, I do not know and one thing we will try to find out
18:22:03 I’m not going to comment, investigation going on and the purpose of this hearing is Benghazi, not going into FBI or inspector general or anything else
18:22:27 All know that is taking place
18:22:45 I know you wouldn’t want me to answer a question when we have three additional hearings to flush it out
18:22:58 Not trying to avoid it but I don’t have all the information yet that I need
18:23:06 One of the things I didn’t want to do was give real opinions or analysis because we don’t have all the facts, we are fact finding
Chambliss
18:23:24 Complex scenario like this, can’t get all answered, have two in effect
18:23:37 Continue to work to get those answers
Feinstein
18:23:54 We had very good testimony from General R on what assets are there and not there and leave it at that
18:24:10 Thank all of you, have on thick soles, and long wait and we are probably most disappointing but is what it is so thank you
18:24:27 Exit Feinstein and Chambliss
