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Hillary Clinton backs same-sex marriage
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced for the first time Monday she supports marriage rights for same-sex couples, saying that "gay rights are human rights, and human rights are gay rights."
"America is at its best when we champion the freedom and dignity of every human being," Clinton said in a video produced by the Human Rights Campaign.
FULL STORYPossible leak of politicians' info probed
Did sensitive information about Vice President Joe Biden and other high-profile politicians and celebrities get published to the Internet? And if so, how?
Federal investigators said Tuesday they're trying to find out.
A U.S. Secret Service spokesman said the agency was investigating how sensitive information that could be about Biden, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and first lady Michelle Obama ended up on the Internet.
FULL STORYTuesday's live events
President Obama will deliver his fourth State of the Union address before Congress on February 12. Watch CNN.com Live for all of your political coverage.
Today's programming highlights...
9:30 am ET - Clinton town hall - As she winds up her term as secretary of state, Hillary Clinton will hold a global town hall-style forum at the State Department. Questions will be taken from an audience, as well as online, social media and broadcast.
Thursday's live events
President Obama will deliver his fourth State of the Union address before Congress on February 12. Watch CNN.com Live for all your political coverage.
Today's programming highlights...
10:00 am ET - Secretary of State nomination hearing - After Hillary Clinton's grilling on Capitol Hill, you would think no one would want her job as secretary of state. But Sen. John Kerry does, and he will testify before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on his nomination.
Five things we learned from the Benghazi hearings
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Wednesday took on Republican congressional critics of her department's handling of the deadly September terrorist attack in Libya.
Conservative GOP members challenged Clinton on the lack of security at the diplomatic compound in Benghazi as well as the erroneous account that the attack grew spontaneously from a protest over an anti-Islam film produced in the United States.
At two hearings, which together totaled more than five hours, Clinton acknowledged a "systemic breakdown" cited by an independent review of issues leading up to the armed assault and said her department was taking additional steps to increase security at U.S. diplomatic facilities.
Here are five things we learned from the hearings before the Senate Foreign Relations and House Foreign Affairs committees.
Click here to see the five things we learned from the hearings
Live blog: Clinton testifies before House on Benghazi attack
- Secretary of State Hillary Clinton answers questions about what she knew about the September 11 attack on the U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, and when she knew it.
- Republicans have criticized the Obama administration about level of security before the attack and its reaction and explanations afterward
- Earlier today, Clinton testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on the same subject.
- Read our full story here.
[Updated at 5:03 p.m. ET] And after three hours, the session is over. The panel's chairman, Rep. Edward Royce, R-California, ends the session by saying he's concerned whether the independent review board captured fully what happened in Benghazi.
Live blog: Clinton testifies before Senate on Benghazi attack
- You can watch the hearing live on CNN.com.
- It will examine the timeline of what happened and what mistakes were made.
- Clinton will answer questions from senators about what she knew and when she knew it concerning the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, on September 11, 2012.
- Read our full story here.
[Updated 12:13 p.m. ET] CNN's chief Washington correspondent, Jake Tapper, says he wasn't surprised that Clinton became emotional when she recalled calling the families of the two State Department personnel who died in Benghazi - Ambassador Chris Stevens and computer expert Sean Smith.
"A lot of diplomatic people, we don’t perceive hem in this country as necessarily putting their lives at risk - we think, oh, they work for the State Department, their job is not as dangerous. And it’s not true," Tapper said. "And people like Secretary Clinton have now learned that firsthand. … The other point to take is, from sources close to her, this really did take a very, very, strong emotional toll on her. In addition to an exhausting job, I think probably it’s all part and parcel of the exhaustion we’ve seen that she’s been suffering.”
[Updated 12:05 p.m. ET] CNN's chief Washington correspondent, Jake Tapper, sums up the criticism that Clinton received from some Republicans on the Senate panel this morning:
"Republicans were focused on two areas of criticism. One, of course, (was) the fact that the administration - specifically the United Nations Ambassador Dr. Susan Rice - initially in the Sunday show appearances ... (gave the view that) this was not a terrorist attack, this was a spontaneous protest because of that anti-Islam video, which of course turns out not to have been the case.
"And a lot of senators - Ron Johnson and John McCain especially - focused on why were these talking points false. Specifically, Johnson said that Dr. Rice was purposefully misleading the American public. Dr. Rice, of course, has said she was not - that she was merely using the talking points provided by the intelligence community, and that there was no effort to mislead. She was providing as much information as she knew at the time.
"The other area where there was significant criticism, of course, came from Sen. Rand Paul, who was talking about the lack of accountability - how come nobody was fired? He said that if he had been president at the time ... he would have relieved Secretary Clinton of her job, specifically for not having read all of these cables from on the ground in Libya, of diplomatic personnel requesting more security in the months leading up to the attack."
[Updated 11:37 a.m. ET] This morning's hearing has concluded.
Clinton's prepared remarks for congressional hearing on Libya
Here are Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's prepared remarks for a hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday morning:
Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member, members of the Committee, thank you for this opportunity.
The terrorist attacks in Benghazi on September 11, 2012 that claimed the lives of four brave Americans - Chris Stevens, Sean Smith, Tyrone Woods, and Glen Doherty - are part of a broader strategic challenge to the United States and our partners in North Africa. Today, I want to offer some context for this challenge and share what we’ve learned, how we are protecting our people, and where we can work together to honor our fallen colleagues and continue to champion America’s interests and values.
Wednesday's live events
President Obama will deliver his fourth State of the Union address before Congress on February 12. Watch CNN.com Live for all your political coverage.
Today's programming highlights...
9:00 am ET - Benghazi attack hearing - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is on Capitol Hill today to discuss last year's attack of the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya. She'll first appear before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, then will testify before the House Foreign Affairs Committee at 2:00 pm ET.
Hillary Clinton back at work - with a football helmet
Hillary Clinton went back to work as secretary of state this morning and was greeted by colleagues showing off their sense of humor.
Hillary Clinton discharged from hospital
[Update, 6:31 p.m. ET] U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was discharged Wednesday evening from New York Presbyterian Hospital, where she'd been admitted Sunday because of a blood clot, the State Department said.
"Her medical team advised her that she is making good progress on all fronts, and they are confident she will make a full recovery," the department said. "She's eager to get back to the office, and we will keep you updated on her schedule as it becomes clearer in the coming days. Both she and her family would like to express their appreciation for the excellent care she received from the doctors, nurses and staff at New York Presbyterian Hospital Columbia University Medical Center.
[Update, 5:50 p.m. ET] U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's office hasn't issued a statement saying that she had been released from New York Presbyterian Hospital.
CNN staff outside the hospital had seen Clinton, her husband and daughter get into a van outside the hospital on Wednesday.
[Initial post, 4:13 p.m. ET] U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has left New York Presbyterian Hospital, according to CNN staff at the scene.
Clinton had been admitted Sunday due to a blood clot that was discovered during a follow-up exam related to a concussion she suffered last month.
FULL STORY
Clinton talking with staff on phone from hospital, State Department says
It may only be a small update, but it seems we have a bit of good news about Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's current health.
Clinton has been speaking with her staff and is active on the phone from the New York hospital where she's being treated for a blood clot between her skull and brain, according to State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland.
Nuland told reporters at an off-camera briefing Wednesday that there is nothing new to report about Clinton's condition and treatment beyond the Monday statement from her doctors.
Hillary Clinton faints, suffers concussion
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sustained a concussion after becoming dehydrated and fainting, a State Department official said.
Clinton had been suffering from a stomach virus at the time, according to a statement on Saturday from Philippe Reines, deputy assistant secretary of state.
She is being monitored by doctors and is recovering at home. She was never hospitalized, Reines said.
FULL STORYMonday's live events
President Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney hold their first debate October 3 from the campus of the University of Denver. Watch CNN.com Live for all the latest coverage from the election.
Today's programming highlights...
9:00 am ET - Clinton Global Initiative - The annual Clinton Global Initiative continues in New York with a keynote address by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on designing diplomacy for the 21st century. President Obama and GOP rival Mitt Romney will both address the event tomorrow.
Clinton embarks on wide-ranging Asia trip
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was heading to Asia on Thursday for a wide-ranging trip that will take her from the Cook Islands in the Pacific Ocean to China and Russia farther north.
The State Department says the week-and-a-half-long trip is intended to emphasize a strong, long-term U.S. focus on the entire Asia-Pacific region.
"It is a very long, very diverse trip, but the concurrent themes that run through this is a strong, determined effort on the part of the United States to underscore our rebalancing towards the Asia-Pacific region, to make clear that we're here to stay, that we are engaged on an array of issues - strategic, political, commercial," a senior State Department official told reporters ahead of the trip.
"It spans not just Asia, not just Northeast Asia but Southeast Asia and, increasingly, the Pacific," the official said.
CNN prime time: Dick Clark's influence, Clinton's words for N. Korean leader
Dick Clark's impact on race and music
Dick Clark and "American Bandstand" gave vital exposure to African-American music artists, CNN's Jack Cafferty says.
Clinton to Kim Jong Un: Reform N. Korea
CNN's Wolf Blitzer asks Secretary of State Clinton to speak directly to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
New Martin judge will 'apply the law'
CNN's Erin Burnett speaks to a panel of analysts about the new judge in the Trayvon Martin shooting case.
Hillary Clinton's mother dies at 92
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's mother, Dorothy Rodham, died Tuesday at the age of 92, the Clinton Foundation announced.
Rodham's death came a day after the State Department said Clinton had canceled a scheduled trip to Britain and Turkey because her mother was ill.
Rodham died in Washington surrounded by family, the Clinton Foundation said in a news release. Her illness was not disclosed.
The foundation called Rodham "a warm, generous and strong woman; an intellectual; a woman who told a great joke and always got the joke; an extraordinary friend and, most of all, a loving wife, mother and grandmother."
Rodham made occasional campaign appearances with her daughter during Clinton's unsuccessful Democratic presidential bid in 2008, and she helped the former first lady raise money to retire her campaign debt. She also made trips with the Clintons during their years in the White House, including a 2000 visit to India and a 1998 trip to China.
Hillary Clinton had been scheduled to attend a conference on Afghanistan on Wednesday in Istanbul, with a stop in London for talks with her British counterpart, Foreign Secretary William Hague, on the way.
FULL STORYClinton arrives in Libya on unannounced visit
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton landed in Tripoli on Tuesday, making her the first Cabinet-level American official to visit Libya since the ouster of longtime strongman Moammar Gadhafi.
Clinton landed under tight security in a country where forces loyal to the transitional government are still battling Gadhafi loyalists. She was slated to meet with officials of the National Transitional Council and planned to offer U.S. medical assistance for those wounded in the fighting, according to a senior State Department official traveling with the secretary.
NTC fighters toppled Gadhafi's nearly 42-year-old government in August after six months of fighting. Gadhafi, his son Saif al-Islam Gadhafi and his brother-in-law and intelligence chief Abdullah al-Sanussi are wanted on war crimes charges and remain fugitives.
- CNN's Elise Labott is the news media pool producer for Clinton's trip.
On the Radar: Lohan, Afghanistan, captured fugitive, wild weather, Chavez
Lindsay Lohan ordered back to court - Lindsay Lohan allegedly failed a court-ordered alcohol test last week and will have to go before a judge for a probation violation hearing Thursday morning, according to a source close to the case. Lohan's failed test comes while the actress is confined to her Venice Beach, California, home after pleading guilty to stealing a necklace. The actress will appear before Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Stephanie Sautner, the same judge who sentenced her, a prosecution spokeswoman said.
Fugitive captured - Accused Boston crime boss James "Whitey" Bulger is expected to be arraigned Thursday in Los Angeles. Bulger was arrested Wednesday by the FBI Fugitive Task Force in Santa Monica, California, according to FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller. Bulger had been on the run since the mid-'90s after fleeing Boston as he was about to be arrested in connection with 19 killings, racketeering and other crimes. Bulger, 81, has been the subject of several books and was said to be the inspiration for the 2006 movie "The Departed."
Clinton increases pressure on Gadhafi
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged countries in Africa on Monday to kick out diplomats representing the government of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi.
Clinton made the remarks at a meeting of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
She urged countries to "suspend the operations of Gadhafi's embassies in your countries," expel pro-Gadhafi diplomats and "increase contact and support" with the Transitional National Council, which represents the main opposition to Gadhafi's rule.
A handful of countries have recognized the Transitional National Council as the sole representative of the Libyan people. A larger number have agreed to provide it financial support.
On Monday, the United Arab Emirates notified Gadhafi's ambassador in that country that his diplomatic status there will expire in 72 hours, a diplomatic source in the United Arab Emirates said. The UAE has recognized the Transitional National Council as the Libyan government.
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