Former Dep. Mission Chief in Libya Gregory Hicks testified he spoke with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at 2 a.m. the night of the Benghazi attack, briefing her on the search for Ambassador Chris Stevens and the need to evacuate the compound. He then said he got what he called the "saddest phone call" he had ever received, bearing news Stevens had been killed.
HICKS: During the night, I'm in touch with Washington, keeping them posted of what's happening in Tripoli and to the best of my knowledge what I'm being told in Benghazi. I think at about 2:00 p.m. the, 2:00 a.m., sorry, Secretary of State Clinton called me and along with her senior staff were all on the phone. And she asked me what was going on, and I briefed her on developments. Most of the conversation was about the search for Ambassador Stevens. It was also about what we were going to do with our personnel in Benghazi, and I told her we would need to evacuate and she said that was the right thing to do. At about 3:00 a.m. I received a call from the Prime Minister of Libya. I think it's the saddest phone call I have ever had in my life. He told me that Ambassador Stevens had passed away. I immediately telephoned Washington that news afterwards and began accelerating our effort to withdraw from the compound and move to the annex. Excuse me, take a glass of water. Our team responded with amazing discipline and courage in Tripoli in organizing our withdrawal.