Reid Blasts 'Pathetic' GOP Reactions To Benghazi Suspect Capture

SAHIL KAPUR – JUNE 17, 2014, 3:18 PM EDT

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) torched the reactions from some Republicans Tuesday to the capture of Libyan militant Ahmed Abu Khatallah in connection to the 2012 Benghazi attacks.

Unprompted, and without mentioning any by name, he sounded off on his political adversaries, calling their remarks "shocking and disgusting," insulting to U.S. special forces and "really pathetic."

Here's what Reid said at the top of his weekly press conference:

"It doesn't matter what your ideology is, you should feel good about this. There’s no conspiracy here, this is actual news. But the reaction of some of the Republicans, I’ve been told, is to downplay and insult the brave men and women of our special forces and the FBI. They’re trying to say, oh, it’s no big deal. I wonder if the men and women who captured the terrorist agree. But the Republicans said it's no big deal. Even in these days of polarization, created by the obstruction, the delay, and diversion of the Republicans, even in these days of polarization, their reaction is shocking and disgusting. They’re so obsessed with criticism, criticizing anything President Obama does. They’ll go so far as to sit here and insult the men and women in uniform and in law enforcement. They should stop and think, just for a little bit, about what it’s like to put your life on the line and to do something for our country -- that’s what they did. They’re insulting these good men and women who did some courageous things, heroic things, in order to criticize President Obama. I think they’ve lost touch with reality; it’s really pathetic, there’s no other word for it."