Lawmakers press FBI on Benghazi attack
A man holds a rifle outside the burning U.S. consulate compound in Benghazi in September 2012.
July 31st, 2013
10:48 PM ET
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Lawmakers press FBI on Benghazi attack

A Republican lawmaker demanded Wednesday to know why investigators have not captured or killed any of the suspects in the attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, pointing out that CNN was able to find a man who some say was the ringleader in the assault that left the ambassador and three other Americans dead.

Eight GOP lawmakers are asking that incoming FBI Director James Comey brief Congress within 30 days about the investigation. They say the administration's inquiry into the September 11, 2011, attacks in Libya has been "simply unacceptable," according to a draft letter obtained by CNN.

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Filed under: Libya • Politics
Sources: U.S. close to calling for al-Assad to step down
August 9th, 2011
07:44 PM ET
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Sources: U.S. close to calling for al-Assad to step down

The United States is moving toward an explicit call for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down, multiple U.S. government sources have told CNN.

The move is expected in the coming days, after the United States consults with the United Nations Security Council. The United States has opposed Assad's security crackdown on protests across Syria.

Administration officials have been talking among themselves about when would be the most effective time to call on al-Assad (pictured) to step down, several sources over the past week have told CNN. Officials described the White House as being more eager, while the State Department was more cautious about the ramifications should al-Assad not heed the call.

A Security Council meeting is expected Wednesday, multiple U.S. government sources told CNN.

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S&P downgrades U.S. credit rating
August 5th, 2011
09:44 PM ET
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S&P downgrades U.S. credit rating

[Updated at 9:44 p.m. ET] Referring to the Obama administration's contention that Standard & Poor's analysis of the government's finances was off by about $2 trillion, a Treasury Department spokesperson said: "A judgment flawed by a $2 trillion error speaks for itself."

The Standard & Poor's rating agency announced Friday evening that it has downgraded the U.S. credit rating to AA+ from its top rank of AAA.

On Friday afternoon, hours before S&P publicly announced the downgrade, the agency revealed its plans to the Obama administration and sent an analysis to the Treasury Department. The senior administration official said the analysis inflated U.S. deficits by $2 trillion.

Treasury analysts contacted S&P and challenged the analysis, and S&P acknowledged the mistake, the official said. But S&P said it still would stick with its decision to downgrade the United States' credit rating, according to the official.

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Filed under: Economy • Finance • U.S.