A GOP Congressman Is Bringing Father of SEAL Killed in Benghazi to Obama's State of the Union Address

UPDATE: Congressman Bridenstine and Charles Woods will join "The Glenn Beck Program" at 5pm ET on Tuesday, January 28, to talk about the invitation and the speech. You can watch on TheBlaze TV.

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Former Navy SEAL Ty Woods was killed Sept. 11, 2012, defending the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya (image source: State Department)

The father of a former Navy SEAL who was killed in the September 2012 terrorist attack on the U.S. compound in Benghazi, Libya, will attend Tuesday’s State of the Union address in the nation’s capital.

Charles Woods will attend the address at the invitation of Rep. Jim Bridenstine, a Republican from Oklahoma.

“As a combat veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, I understand the importance of knowing that America leaves no one behind. I am honored to host the father of a true hero,” Bridenstine said in a statement Monday.

The Oklahoma Congressman added that he invited Charles Woods as a way to reassure the mourning father that his son’s sacrifice “will never be forgotten” in the U.S. Houses of Representatives.

President Barack Obama, whose administration suggested initially that Ty Woods was killed in an attack prompted by a YouTube video, will deliver the State of the Union address in the House chamber.

Woods was one of four Americans killed in the attack on Benghazi. The others included U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens, Glen Doherty and Sean Smith.

Bridenstine is a member of contingent of Republican lawmakers that has called for a special committee to investigate the deadly September 2012 attacks.

The Washington Times offers some useful background on State of the Union invites: “Lawmakers sit on the chamber floor for the speech, but they are given a ticket to the public viewing galleries. Some use the ticket for spouses or other family members, but many bring guests who they believe will make a policy statement."

“Republican leaders were urging their members to bring people who have been hurt by Obamacare. Some Democrats plan to bring illegal immigrant children who were granted a temporary stay of deportation by Mr. Obama, hoping their presence will spur a push for a broader immigration bill to pass Congress this year," the report notes.

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