The White House is refusing to say who authorized the deployment in Niger that left four U.S. soldiers dead.
Both the president and his spokeswoman, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, ducked questioned on the matter on Friday.
President Donald Trump ignored a reporter who asked him quite pointedly about it in the Oval Office. Huckabee Sanders told reporters that until a Pentagon review is completed, ‘We’re not going to weigh in any further.’
The White House is refusing to say who authorized the deployment in Niger that left four U.S. soldiers dead. Both the president and his spokeswoman, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, ducked questioned on the matter on Friday
Defense Secretary James Mattis is said to be dismayed by the slow pace of information on the ambush that took place on Oct. 4. But a CNN report said that he had not specifically ordered the investigation to be expedited.
According to Huckabee Sanders, the White House is waiting to make further comment on the deadly incident until it is completed.
What is known is that a dozen U.S special forces were traveling in unarmored trucks 120 miles north of Niger’s capital when they were ambushed by militants, believed to be linked to ISIS, earlier this month.
Four of them were killed: US Army Staff Sgt. Bryan C. Black; Sgt La David Johnson; Staff Sgt. Dustin Wright, and Staff Sgt. Jeremiah Johnson.
Lingering questions remain about the mission weeks later.
Trump waited until Monday to comment on the matter. And he only remarked on it then because a reporter asked him about it during an impromptu news conference.
He incorrectly stated in his remarks that Obama ‘didn’t make calls’ to fallen soldiers’ families, setting off a national controversy that has not ended.
On Friday, reporters continued to press the administration for answers, asking Trump in the Oval Office about the ambush, then pressing his spokeswoman at her daily news conference.
Huckabee Sanders said she could not provide additional details, including who ordered the operation.
‘As I’ve said there’s a process when an American is killed in action there is a full review that takes place and before we start jumping to any conclusions we want to make sure that is completed fully and we’ll have those details for you at that time,’ she stated.
Batting down another reporter, Huckabee Sanders said, ‘Again I’m not going to get into any of the details at this point. You may be able to talk with those at the Department of Defense and they can answer anything further, but where we are in the process until the review is complete, we’re not going to weigh in any further.’