Johnson backtracks on criticism of Clinton

WASHINGTON, Jan. 25 (UPI) -- Sen. Ron Johnson said he shouldn't have speculated as to why Hillary Clinton choked up during her Senate testimony on the attack on the consulate in Benghazi.

"I did not accuse her of crying," Johnson said on CNN's "Starting Point with Soledad O'Brien" Thursday. "I was responding to a question, Soledad. I probably speculated and I shouldn't've."

Johnson's statement came after he said Clinton's emotional moments were an aversion strategy to get out of the questions.

"It was a good way of getting out of really having to respond to me," Johnson said in an interview with BuzzFeed Wednesday.

CNN said Johnson questioned Clinton about the administration's initial argument that the attack was caused by a protest over an anti-Islam film.

Johnson stood by his questions Thursday and said the administration should have obtained answers about the attack right away.