The Republicans on the House Oversight Committee just released their latest report on last year's attacks in Benghazi. One of its conclusions was that “it is likely, based on email evidence, that former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's views played a role in the decision-making” regarding the Benghazi mission. This very carefully hedged and largely toothless allegation is part of the Republican PR strategy to create buzz around the report -- if you want to get reporters talking, you take a swipe at Hillary Clinton. And predictably, Fox News is giving the GOP a hand by lying about the report and overstating what it actually says.

House Oversight Committee member Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) went on Fox News' America's Newsroom this morning to discuss the report and hype up the Benghazi hearings his committee will hold later this week. Host Bill Hemmer was intrigued by the partisan report's findings, and described them for his viewers: “It also points to Hillary Clinton's views, and how they played a major role in the decision-making in Benghazi.”

The report doesn't say that. Again, here's what the report says with regard to Clinton, with emphasis added:

E-mails reviewed by the Committee, however, show it is likely that Secretary Clinton's views played some role in the decision making on the future of the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi.

Hemmer transformed that uncertain and weakly supported conclusion into Clinton's views playing “a major role” in Benghazi decision-making. Chaffetz obviously didn't stop to correct Hemmer, because this is precisely what Chaffetz and the Republicans want -- irresponsible media coverage that helps stir up partisan rancor over Benghazi ahead of the hearings.