Hillary Clinton Chokes Up During Congressional Hearing on Benghazi

Jan. 23, 2013— -- Secretary of State Hillary Clinton choked up during a congressional hearing about the attack on the U.S. diplomatic post in Benghazi, Libya.

"For me, this is not just a matter of policy. It's personal," she said. "I stood next to President Obama as the Marines carried those flag-draped caskets off the plane at [Joint Base] Andrews. I put my arms around the mothers and fathers, the sisters and brothers, sons and daughters, and the wives left alone to raise their children."

Clinton said again that she takes responsibility for the September 11 militant attack, which left U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens dead along with three other U.S. citizens. She pledged to look at ways to strengthen security at U.S. embassies around the world.

"As I have said many times since September 11, I take responsibility," she told members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, according to prepared remarks. "Nobody is more committed to getting this right. I am determined to leave the State Department and our country safer, stronger, and more secure.

Watch the rest of the hearing here.

Read more about what happened in Benghazi here.

UPDATE 11:16 AM: Here is a testy exchange between Clinton and Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) over the cause of the attack on the U.S. diplomatic post.