Benghazi hero to deliver keynote at upcoming Alabama event

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October 23, 2015

Kris “Tanto” Paronto, survivor of the attacks on Benghazi.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Kris “Tanto” Paronto, a surviving member of the CIA Annex Security team that responded to the September 11, 2012 terrorist attack in Benghazi, will headline the Lincoln-Reagan Dinner hosted by the Montgomery County Republican Executive Committee on Thursday, November 5.

A former Army Ranger from the 2nd Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment and private security contractor, Paronto helped save over 20 lives fighting off terrorists from the CIA Annex for over 13 hours as part of the CIA Annex Security Team.

Paronto’s story of that fateful night, along with those of his surviving team members, are shared in Mitchell Zuckoff’s upcoming book 13 Hours: The Inside Account of What Really Happened in Benghazi, which is expected to be released in January 2016.

“Kris Paronto sets the record straight on what happened in Benghazi,” said Committee Chairman Pat Wilson. “We’re honored to have him as our speaker at this first-ever Lincoln-Reagan Dinner.”

Paronto has been deployed through the U.S. Army and National Guard across the globe, including missions in South America, Central America, the Middle East and North Africa before becoming a security contractor in 2003, working on many security missions.

The announcement of Paronto’s Alabama visit comes as the Benghazi attack is once again in headlines after former Secretary of State and current Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton appeared before the House Select Committee to investigate the attacks Thursday.

Alabama Congresswoman Martha Roby questioned Clinton twice during the marathon hearing, asking her about a set of emails claiming the then-Secretary of State was unaware of what was really happening in Libya prior to the terror attack.

Later in the day Roby asked Clinton whether or not she was alone all night on September 11, 2012, to which Clinton responded with laughter.

Tickets and sponsorships for Kris Paronto’s visit are available on the Montgomery County Republican Executive Committee website.