Hillary Clinton busy in last days at State

WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 (UPI) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is to appear before Congress twice next week, to testify about Benghazi and to introduce her nominated successor.

Clinton's testimony about the attack on the Benghazi consulate -- in which U.S. Ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens and three other Americans were killed -- was postponed from December. Her appearance is scheduled for Wednesday, CNN reported.

On Thursday, she will introduce Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee as President Barack Obama's choice to succeed her as secretary of state. Since Kerry chairs the committee, her introduction will be ceremonial.

Clinton returned to work this month after being hospitalized for treatment of a virus infection complicated by a fall that left her with a concussion. Her staff says she has been meeting with Kerry frequently to discuss the job.

Clinton's exact departure date has not been announced. The Senate committee has to wait a week before voting on Kerry's nomination, which must also pass the full Senate.

Valedictory events include a Jan. 29 town hall forum at the State Department, open to the world through broadcast and social media, and a final speech to the Council on Foreign Relations Jan. 31.

"She's entering a period that she has not experienced in a very long time. She will wake up on Monday, Feb. 4, and not have to be anywhere she doesn't want to be," State Department spokesman Philippe Reines told CNN, while declining to say her tenure will end Friday, Feb. 1.