Obama calls GOP talk on Benghazi a ‘sideshow’

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is dismissing Republican criticism of his administration’s handling of the attack on a U.S. diplomatic post in Libya, calling the criticism a political sideshow.

In his words, “there is no there there,” Obama told a news conference Monday.

He was asked about recent disclosures that talking points on the attack produced by the intelligence community were later watered down to delete references to suspected ties between last September’s assault and Islamic militants.

Obama, who spoke during a news conference with visiting British Prime Minister David Cameron, said it was not clear in the aftermath of the attack who was responsible and what their motives were.

He again defended his administration’s actions.

The U.S. ambassador to Libya and three other Americans were killed in the assault on the U.S. mission in Benghazi.