A Republican lawmaker demanded Wednesday to know why investigators have not captured or killed any of the suspects in the attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi , pointing out that CNN was able to find a man who some say was the ringleader in the assault that left the ambassador and three other Americans dead . Eight GOP lawmakers are asking that incoming FBI Director James Comey brief Congress within 30 days about the investigation . They say the administration 's inquiry into the September 11 , 2012 , attacks in Libya has been `` simply unacceptable , '' according to a draft letter obtained by CNN . `` One of the pertinent questions today is why we have not captured or killed the terrorist who committed these attacks ? '' Rep. Jason Chaffetz , R-Utah , told reporters . `` News out today that CNN was able to go in and talk to one of the suspected terrorists , how come the military has n't been able to get after them and capture or kill the people ? How come the FBI is n't doing this and yet CNN is ? '' Chaffetz was referring to CNN 's recent interview with Ahmed Abu Khattala , who Libyan and U.S. officials have described as the Benghazi leader of the al Qaeda-affiliated militia group Ansar al-Sharia -- one of many groups that filled the vacuum of authority following the overthrow of Moammar Gadhafi . He has been described as a `` person of interest '' in the investigation , according to officials . In that interview , Khattala told CNN 's Arwa Damon that he had not been contacted by any Libyan or American officials . House panel subpoenas State Department over Benghazi . `` Even the investigative team did not try to contact me , '' he told Damon , referring to the FBI . When asked whether he would be willing to meet with investigators if they asked , Khattala said : `` Yes , no problem . ... But not as an interrogation , as a conversation like the one we are having right now . '' Damon spent two hours interviewing Khattala at a coffee shop at a well-known hotel in Benghazi , describing his demeanor as fairly relaxed . He allowed Damon to use an audio recorder to tape the conversation , but refused to appear on camera . Khattala 's narrative of the events that night was sometimes unclear and , at times , seemed to be contradictory , Damon said . He admitted to being at the compound the night of the attack , but denied any involvement in the violence . When he arrived at the perimeter of the compound , Khattala said he saw men carrying RPGs and medium guns , but that gunfire prevented him from getting close and entering the compound . Opinion : Benghazi blame game is useless . Khattala said by the time he managed to get inside the compound , everyone had withdrawn . He said he did not see any fires . Asked about allegations he may have masterminded the attack , Khattala and two of the men he brought with him to the interview `` burst out laughing , '' Damon said . Khattala does not appear to be a man who is in hiding , having granted interviews to The New York Times , Reuters and other news agencies in the weeks following the Benghazi attack . `` Rumors continue to swirl about the whereabouts of suspects involved in the attack , '' the lawmakers wrote in their letter to Comey , who will replace Robert Mueller as FBI director in September . `` The FBI continues to add pictures of potential assailants to its website and asks the Libyan people to assist with identifying the alleged perpetrators . We struggle to understand why we do n't know more about those who attacked two U.S. compounds and murdered four brave Americans. `` The FBI did not immediately respond to a CNN request for comment on the letter . The letter was initiated by Chaffetz and Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina , two of the fiercest critics of the administration 's Benghazi response . Others who agreed to sign the letter included Sens . John McCain of Arizona , Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin . On the House side , Darrell Issa , the chairman of the committee leading the House Benghazi investigation , Trey Gowdy of South Carolina and Jim Jordan of Ohio signed the letter . In the letter , the lawmakers wrote : `` We encourage you to be aggressive in your investigation to properly hold accountable those who attacked our compounds in Benghazi . We owe the families of those killed , and the people of this nation , answers to who was responsible and ensure they are held accountable . '' The attack at the Benghazi diplomatic compound has become a political flashpoint in a long-running battle between the administration and Republicans , who accuse it of not bolstering security before the attack , of botching the response to it and of misleading the public for political gain less than two months before the November election . White House releases Benghazi e-mails . The GOP suggests the administration removed specific terror references and stuck to an explanation advanced by U.N . Ambassador Susan Rice in television appearances -- later proved untrue -- that the attack was the result of a spontaneous demonstration over an anti-Muslim film that was produced in the United States . The White House and its allies in Congress have said any confusion and conflicting information in the early hours and days after the assault stemmed from the `` fog of war , '' not any deliberate effort to mislead the public .
Rep. Jason Chaffetz wants to know why the FBI has n't interviewed Ahmed Abu Khattala . Some have described Khattala as the ringleader of the attack on the consulate . Khattala tells CNN that no American or Libyan official has asked to speak to him . He says he was not involved in planning the Benghazi attacks, and his name is being used by a group called Ansar al Sharia for propaganda purposes.