The veteran diplomat who oversaw the response to the deadly attacks on U.S. installations in eastern Libya last year offered a riveting account of that frantic night Wednesday as House Republicans sought to use his testimony to bolster their view that the Obama administration tried to shield embarrassing facts about the ordeal, The Washington Post is reporting. Democrats, downplayed charges of a cover-up, “I don’t think there’s a smoking gun here today,” said Rep. Mark Pocan, Wisconsin Democrat. “Not even a lukewarm slingshot,” he told The Washington Times.

As the White House grapples with backlash over its Libya lies and lapses, President Obama’s apologists are gearing up for battle. Dick Morris writes that this is the beginning of the end for Obama. The biggest Benghazi-related story that took place outside of the House Oversight Committee’s hearing room is this item in Politico, regarding CBS News correspondent Sharyl Attkisson. She’s the reporter who famously drew White House officials’ profane ire over her unapologetic pursuit of the Fast & Furious scandal story; now she’s apparently facing searing criticism from another source: Her own bosses. Why?  Because she’s been covering the Benghazi story too aggressively, according to Townhall.