State Defends Clinton From Concussion Conspirators

A State Department spokeswoman had to make an unusual statement today: Yes, my boss is really sick. She was referring to a slew of conservatives insisting that Hillary Clinton made up a story about fainting and suffering a concussion to avoid testifying on Capitol Hill this week on the Benghazi attack. “It's really unfortunate that in times like this people make wild speculation based on no information,” said the spokeswoman, reports the Hill. "These are people who don't know what they're talking about."

She took particular umbrage with the comments of former UN ambassador John Bolton, who went on Fox to declare: “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.” The New York Post even wrote an editorial on the subject, calling it “one of the most transparent dodges in the history of diplomacy.” Politico rounds up some other choice criticisms from the right here. Meanwhile, two top Clinton aides will take her place on Capitol Hill. (More Hillary Clinton stories.)