U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton defends her handling of the Sept. 11th attack Benghazi before a Congressional Committee Wednesday.

The attack killed four Americans in an event that threatens to stain her legacy at the State Department.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY CLINTON:

"I take responsibility. Nobody is more committed to getting this right. I am determined to leave the State Department and our country safer, stronger and more secure,"

Speaking in testimony delayed by more than a month because of her health -- Clinton's voice broke as she spoke of the attack.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY CLINTON:

"For me this is not just a matter of policy-- it's personal. I stood next to President Obama as the marines carried those flag draped caskets off the plane at Andrews. I put my arms around the mothers and father the sisters and brothers and the sons and daughters the wives left alone to raise their children.

Republicans in Congress have harshly criticized the Administration's handling of the attacks with officials first saying they appeared to be the result of a spontaneous demonstration rather than a planned assault.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY CLINTON:

"The fact is we had four dead Americans, whether it was because of a protest or because there was some guys who went out for a walk one night and decided they wanted to go kill some Americans. What difference at this point does this make? It is our job to figure out what happened and to everything we can to prevent it from ever happening again."

The attack could haunt Clinton should she decide to run again for president in 2016, a possibility she has played down.