Hillary Clinton Concussion Fake? Allegations Made
Hillary Clinton fainted and suffered a concussion last week, and some are claiming that the Secretary of State is trying to avoid testifying at the Benghazi hearings. At least three high-profile conservatives have issued statements alleging that Clinton is faking her injuries and demanding to see her medical files.
"If she has a concussion, let's see the medical report," wrote The Daily Caller's Jim Treacher. "Let's see some proof that she's not just stonewalling. If it's true, then we can all wish her a speedy recovery. But it's ridiculous to expect us to take her word for it. P.S. If you demanded Romney's tax returns but you think it's paranoid to ask for Hillary Clinton's medical report, #YouMightBeALiberal."
"While suffering from a stomach virus, Secretary Clinton became dehydrated and fainted, sustaining a concussion," State Department spokesman Philippe Reines said in an official statement.
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Clinton had been scheduled to travel abroad but had to change her plans once she became ill. Instead of going to the Middle East and North Africa, Clinton was sent home to recover and be "monitored regularly by her doctors," Reines added. "She is looking forward to being back in the office soon."
Yet many are skeptical about the timing of Clinton's concussion, given that she was due to testify at the Benghazi hearings. In addition to Treacher, John Bolton, a former United Nations Ambassador and Fox News commentator, told Greta Van Sustren that Clinton was merely pretending to be ill.
"You know, every foreign service officer in every foreign ministry in the world knows the phrase I am about to use. When you don't want to go to a meeting or conference, or an event, you have a 'diplomatic illness,' and this is a diplomatic illness to beat the band," Bolton explained.
Several members of Clinton's entourage also became ill with the same stomach virus, though none required acute medical attention. And Clinton will still testify at the hearings, officials say. Her time has just been postponed until she is well enough to travel.
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Republican chair of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, issued a public statement saying, "We have been combing through classified and unclassified documents and have tough questions about State Department threat assessments and decision-making on Benghazi. This requires a public appearance by the Secretary of State herself."
There is no word yet on when exactly Clinton will testify, but Deputy Secretary William Burns and Deputy Secretary Thomas Nides have said they will provide testimony in Clinton's place if necessary.
