Rep. Jackie Speier (D., Calif.) repeatedly asked Gregory Hicks Wednesday to verify his remarks that lawyers at the State Department told him not to be interviewed by Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R., Utah) about the Benghazi attacks.
At one point, she asked him to distinguish between the terms "isolated" and "personally interviewed."
"That's the meaning of isolated, not to be personally interviewed," Hicks replied.
SPEIER: You said earlier today the lawyers at state told you not to talk to Mr. Chaffetz when he came. That's what I wrote down. Would you just verify that's what you said?
HICKS: We were not to be personally interviewed by Congressman Chaffetz.
SPEIER: Now, in your interview with the committee you were asked the question, 'Did you receive any direction about information that Congressman Chaffetz shouldn't be given from Washington?' Your answer was, 'No, I did not.' Is that still your testimony today?
HICKS: I don't recall that phrase. I thought that I said, and I'd have to review again, that I did receive instructions exactly as I said them, but I did not know who gave them to me because I did not have at that time have access to my e-mail from my time as DCM in Tripoli.
DARRELL ISSA: If the gentle lady could just tell us what page of the transcript that is on.
SPEIER: Maybe the staff can get it from me. I'm reading from a separate document.
ISSA: Thank you.
SPEIER: You did say that you were told to make sure other State Department officials were present for meetings with Representative Chaffetz. As you stated, they told me not to be isolated with Congressman Chaffetz. Is that correct?
HICKS: Yes, that's what I mean by not to have a personal interview with Congressman Chaffetz.
SPEIER: So it was more about not being in a situation where you did not have other people with you, is that correct? As opposed to not being interviewed?
HICKS: Again, that's what I said, not to be personally interviewed by Congressman Chaffetz.
SPEIER: Well, you said they told me not to be isolated with Congressman Chaffetz.
HICKS: That's the meaning of isolated, not to be personally interviewed.