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Nordstrom Chokes Up, Takes Swipe at Clinton During Opening Statement

'The committee's labors to uncover what happened, prior, during and after the attack matter'

Former State Department security officer Eric Nordstrom became emotional during his opening state before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform at today's Benghazi hearing.

Nordstrom also took an apparent shot at former Secretary Clinton, stating "The committee's labors to uncover what happened, prior, during and after the attack matter":

ERIC NORDSTROM: [...] As the regional security officer or RSO for the embassy in Tripoli I served as the principal security advisor to U.S. ambassadors Gene Cretz and Chris Stevens on security and law enforcement matters. I want to thank the committee again for opportunity to appear and provide further testimony and support of your inquiry into the tragic events of September 11th, 2012. I would also like to thank the committee in your continued efforts in investigating all the details and all the decisions related to the attack on our diplomatic facility. Specifically the committee's labors to uncover what happened, prior, during and after the attack matter. It matters to me personally. It matters to my colleagues, to my colleagues at the Department of State. It matters to the American public for whom we serve. And most importantly, excuse me. It matters to the friends and family of, of Ambassador Stevens, Sean Smith, Glen Doherty, Tyrone Woods who were murdered on September 11th, 2012. In addition to my testimony before this committee in October of 2012 I also met with the FBI, Senate Homeland Security and governmental affairs committee, the department's Accountability Review Board and I have discussed my experience in Libya with all of them. I'm proud of the work that our team accomplished in libya under extraordinarily difficult circumstances. The protection of our nation's diplomats, our embassies and consulates and the work produced there is deserving of the time that this committee, other congressional committees and the Accountability Review Board and no doubt future review efforts will invest in making sure we get this process right. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of the committee and for the opportunity to appear before you today. I stand ready to answer any questions you might have.