Scalise leads effort demanding accountability in wake of attacks on U.S. Embassies
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Steve Scalise and 10 other Members of Congress today sent a letter to President Obama calling for accountability in the wake of the attacks on U.S. Embassies in Egypt and Libya.
Just hours before the initial attack in Cairo, Egypt, the U.S. Embassy in Cairo sent out a tweet condemning and apologizing for American citizens by saying “The Embassy of the United States in Cairo condemns the continuing efforts by misguided individuals to hurt the religious feelings of Muslims – as we condemn efforts to offend believers of all religions … We firmly reject the actions by those who abuse the universal right of free speech to hurt the religious beliefs of others.”
“The Obama Administration’s apology implies that there is a justification for the actions of those who attacked our embassy,” said Scalise and others in the letter. “It is unacceptable that while U.S. diplomatic personnel’s lives are at risk, President Obama’s Administration reiterated this apology. As Members of Congress and as Americans, we cannot and will not tolerate attacks on American citizens.
“The apology made by Cairo Embassy personnel on September 11th is intolerable and sets bad precedent for how we as a nation represent ourselves abroad, especially in hostile regions such as these. In the wake of the recent attacks on U.S. Embassies in Egypt, Libya, and throughout the Middle East, we urge you to take swift action to ensure the safety and well-being of U.S. diplomatic personnel while also ensuring that those responsible for these attacks are held accountable and swiftly brought to justice. As the attacks on U.S. Embassies throughout the Middle East continue, your Administration must deal with this misrepresentation swiftly and accordingly and notify us of any actions taken to hold those accountable who are responsible for the apology.”
The full text of the letter sent by Scalise can be found here. Signing the Scalise letter were Representatives Bill Cassidy (LA-06), John Culberson (TX-07), John Fleming (LA-04), Louie Gohmert (TX-01), Jim Jordan (OH-04), Jack Kingston (GA-01), Jeff Landry (LA-03), Alan Nunnelee (MS-01), Steve Southerland (FL-02), and Lee Terry (NE-02).