White House to turn over Benghazi emails

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WASHINGTON, Feb. 23 (UPI) -- Obama administration officials say they will give congressional Republicans emails about the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, Fox News reported.

The move may expedite confirmation of two of President Barack Obama's Cabinet appointees -- former Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., as defense secretary, and John Brennan as director of the CIA, the New York Post said.

Fox News, citing a source in Congress it did not name, said the administration had agreed to turn over the emails involving the controversial "talking points" given U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice for her appearances on Sunday morning talk shows immediately after the attack.

Congressional Republicans have suggested the administration tried to cover up mistakes that led to the attack, in which U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans were killed.

Rice withdrew her name from consideration as secretary of state because of criticism of her public comments about the attack.

Republicans accuse the White House of changing Rice's talking points to aid Obama's re-election campaign.

"I do not believe we should confirm anyone as director of the CIA until our questions are answered -- like who changed Ambassador Susan Rice's talking points and deleted the references to al-Qaida," Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said.

The Senate Armed Services Committee has approved Hagel's nomination and top Senate Republicans have indicated they drop a campaign to block it.