Congressman Wants to Authorize Killing of Benghazi Terrorists

In a classified meeting on Capitol Hill, Army General Martin E. Dempsey told House members that he does not have legal power to strike the perpetrators of the deadly Benghazi attacks.

At least one Republican representative thinks that needs to change — now.

Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) wants to give military and intelligence operatives the authority to kill the Benghazi perpetrators. (Image via Duncan Hunter/Facebook)

Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, is drafting legislation that would authorize military and intelligence operatives to kill the terrorists who attacked the U.S. diplomatic mission and CIA base in Benghazi and killed four Americans, including the U.S. ambassador, in 2012.

"Four Americans were killed in the Benghazi attacks and the administration makes the point that there’s no authority to take action if ever needed. Frankly, it’s a cop-out," Joe Kasper, Hunter's deputy chief of staff, told TheBlaze.

"It’s a weak excuse, but if the administration says it needs authority, let them tell the American people, regardless of whether it’s ever used, that they don’t need it or want it," he said.

Hunter, a former Marine with one Afghanistan and two Iraq deployments under his belt, is drafting authorization language that would give the Obama administration the same kill authority it now has for members of Al Qaeda.

Militants killed U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens, a State Department aide and two former Navy SEALs protecting the CIA compound in the Sept. 11, 2012 attacks. Several lawmakers have expressed frustration that the perpetrators continue to go free after President Barack Obama vowed to bring them to justice.

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Wednesday's season finale episode of TheBlaze TV's For the Record, "Zero Footprint" (8 p.m. ET), will feature exclusive revelations about Benghazi, including an interview with a U.S. businesswoman and paid CIA and FBI informant in Libya who claims the Obama administration knew weapons and aid were ending up in the hands of Al Qaeda-affiliated militants in the country before the deadly attacks.

The informant, going by the pseudonym “Annie” to protect her identity, said she met with Stevens on numerous occasions during her time in Libya and gathered information for the CIA and FBI on rebel leaders and terrorist organizations operating inside the country.

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Programming note: Watch TheBlaze TV’s season finale episode of For the Record, “Zero Footprint,” Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET.