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Inside Clinton's testimony before the House Benghazi committee

  • Former Secretary of State and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton testifies before the House Select Committee on Benghazi on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., Oct. 22, 2015. 
  • Former Secretary of State and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton listens to a question posed by the House Select Committee on Benghazi on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., Oct. 22, 2015.
  • Huma Abedin and Trey Gowdy move to exit during a break at the House Select Committee on Benghazi on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., Oct. 22, 2015.
  • Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) and Rep. Cummings (D-MD) share a word during a break of Hillary Clinton’s testimony before the House Select Committee on Benghazi on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., Oct. 22, 2015. 
  • Former Secretary of State and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton examines evidence before a break during her testimony before the House Select Committee on Benghazi on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., Oct. 22, 2015. 
  • Huma Abedin, long-time aide to presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, watches as Clinton testifies before the House Select Committee on Benghazi on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., Oct. 22, 2015.
  • The House Select Committee on Benghazi listens to Hillary Clinton’s testimony on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., Oct. 22, 2015.
  • Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) takes his seat as he returns to the House Select Committee on Benghazi on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., Oct. 22, 2015.
  • Former Secretary of State and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton laughs with a photographer before resuming her testimony for the House Select Committee on Benghazi on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., Oct. 22, 2015.
  • Former Secretary of State and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton departs during a break of her testimony before the House Select Committee on Benghazi on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., Oct. 22, 2015. 
  • Former Secretary of State and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton greets supporters during a break of her testimony before the House Select Committee on Benghazi on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., Oct. 22, 2015.
  • Former Secretary of State and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton testifies before the House Select Committee on Benghazi on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., Oct. 22, 2015. 
  • Former Secretary of State and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton examines evidence before resuming her testimony before the House Select Committee on Benghazi on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., Oct. 22, 2015.
  • Former Secretary of State and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton adjusts her pillow before resuming testifying to the House Select Committee on Benghazi on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., Oct. 22, 2015. 
  • Former Secretary of State and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton returns to her seat to testify before the House Select Committee on Benghazi on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., Oct. 22, 2015.
  • Former Secretary of State and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton smiles during a break after testifying before the House Select Committee on Benghazi on Oct. 22, 2015 on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.
  • Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) departs the hearing room for a break after listening to Democratic presidential candidate and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testify before the House Select Committee on Benghazi on Oct. 22, 2015 on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. 
  • Former Secretary of State and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton testifies before the House Select Committee on Benghazi on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., Oct. 22, 2015.
  • Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) questions former Secretary of State and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton as she testifies before the House Select Committee on Benghazi on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., Oct. 22, 2015. 
  • Former Secretary of State and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton testifies before the House Select Committee on Benghazi on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., Oct. 22, 2015.
  • Former Secretary of State and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton testifies before the House Select Committee on Benghazi on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., Oct. 22, 2015.
  • Rep. Susan Brooks (R-IN) questions former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton about a pile of her printed out emails as she testifies before the House Select Committee on Benghazi in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 22, 2015
  • Former Secretary of State and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton testifies before the House Select Committee on Benghazi on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., Oct. 22, 2015.
  • Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) questions former Secretary of State and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton as she testifies before the House Select Committee on Benghazi on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., Oct. 22, 2015. 
  • A chair sits in the hearing room while former Secretary of State and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton testifies before the House Select Committee on Benghazi on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., Oct. 22, 2015.
  • Former Secretary of State and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton testifies before the House Select Committee on Benghazi on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., Oct. 22, 2015.
  • A sign welcomes attendees at the House Select Committee Hearing on Benghazi in Washington, DC, on Oct. 22, 2015.
  • Former Secretary of State and Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton walks into the hearing room to testify before the House Select Committee on Benghazi on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 22, 2015.
  • Cameras are pictured in the Longworth House Office Building in anticipation of the arrival of Democratic presidential candidate and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton prior to testifying before the House Select Committee on Benghazi on Oct. 22, 2015 on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.
  • Former Secretary of State and Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton arrives to testify before the House Select Committee on Benghazi on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on Oct. 22, 2015.
  • Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) enters the committee room in the Longworth House Office building prior to the arrival of Democratic presidential candidate and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who is set to testify before the House Select Committe on Benghazi, Oct. 22, 2015 on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.
  • American flags frame the cameras and microphones that await Democratic presidential candidate and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who is set to testify before the House Select Committe on Benghazi, Oct. 22, 2015 on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.
  • People wait in line outside the hearing room where Democratic presidential candidate and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will testify October 22, 2015 on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.
  • Legal documents are brought in prior to the start of the start of the House Select Committee on Benghazi hearing in Washington, DC, on Oct. 22, 2015.
  • A protester awaits a politician’s appearance outside the House Select Committee Hearing on Benghazi in Washington, DC, on Oct. 22, 2015.

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By and
—Updated

Hillary Clinton appeared on Thursday before the House committee investigating the terror attack that killed four Americans, including Ambassador Chris Stevens, on Sept. 11, 2012, in Benghazi, Libya. 

While the committee’s Republican chairman, Rep. Trey Gowdy of South Carolina, insists its goal is to get to the bottom of the deadly attack, Democrats and even some Republicans have portrayed the panel as a partisan effort designed to damage Clinton’s presidential prospects. 

The political stakes are high for Clinton. With a commanding performance, she could extend her recent momentum in the presidential race and perhaps even neutralize questions about her use of a private email server that — despite little evidence of serious wrong-doing — have dogged her campaign for months. But if she struggles, the issue could continue to weigh her down. 

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