Did State Investigate Blackwater’s 2005 al-Hilla Shooting?

Amb. Satterfield has a unique vantage point here. In 2005, he was the deputy chief of mission in Baghdad — the No. 2 official at the U.S. Embassy. During that time, the Democratic staff on the committee determined (pdf), Blackwater personnel shot and killed an “innocent bystander” in the central-south city of al-Hilla. According to a State Department email that the committee obtained, the Blackwater guards “failed to report the shooting, covered it up” and were subsequently fired. But there wasn’t evidence that State investigated, although Satterfield said State “thoroughly” investigates each discharge of a firearm. So, Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA), wanted to know: was there an investigation of the al-Hilla incident?

“We will get back to you,” Satterfield said.

Lynch was incredulous. Didn’t Satterfield, the former deputy chief of mission, recall whether the embassy investigated an improper shooting and subsequent apparent cover-up? “Not with the detail it deserves,” he said. “I would prefer to respond to you in writing.” Pressed repeatedly, Satterfield finally said he “cannot recall” if the incident was ever investigated.

Waxman complained that the committee received “a better response from Blackwater than the State Department.”