Obama may be asked about Benghazi, IRS

David Jackson | USATODAY

President Obama holds a brief news conference Monday morning with British Prime Minister David Cameron, but he is likely to be asked about pressing domestic issues: Benghazi and the IRS.

As Republicans call for a select committee to investigate the administration over the Sept. 11 attack on a diplomatic post in Benghazi, Libya, Obama and his aides must also deal with reports that the Internal Revenue Service targeted conservative groups.

Obama and Cameron are scheduled to face the press at 11:15 a.m. ET in the White House Rose Garden.

Obama has not commented publicly on the IRS admission that it gave extra scrutiny to the tax-exempt status of groups with "tea party" and "patriot" in their names, though White House aides have criticized the practice.

White House spokesman Jay Carney said the IRS, which is conducting its own investigation, is a non-partisan entity and has only two political appointees.

"We certainly find the actions taken, as reported, to be inappropriate," Carney said.

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, told CNN's State of the Union that it is "almost as disturbing that President Obama and Treasury Secretary Jack Lew have not personally apologized to the American people and promised a full investigation."

Some congressional Republicans are also calling for a select committee to investigate administration actions surrounding the deadly Sept. 11 attack in Benghazi.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and other Republicans say Obama aides tried to cover up the fact that the attack was carried out by a terrorist group. The aides, who initially attributed the attack to protests over an anti-Islam film, said the story changed because the evidence did.

Carney has accused the Republicans of trying to "politicize" an attack that killed four Americans, including Ambassador Christopher Stevens.