Without specifically saying so, Mr. Rogers hinted that there may be a coordinated effort to remove some of the blame for Benghazi from the administration and from Mrs. Clinton in particular, who still was serving as secretary of state at the time of the attack and has taken much of the heat for security lapses at the American facility and for other failures that led to the event.

“I find it interesting that there is this roll-out of stories” related to Benghazi in recent weeks, Mr. Rogers said, adding that he wouldn’t “speculate” on why the New York Times released the piece when it did.

The report did find that warning signs existed prior to the Benghazi assault, which claimed the life of U.S. Ambassador Christoper Stevens and three others. It also makes clear that the facts on the ground in Benghazi were “murkier” than the picture painted by both sides, and that neither Republicans’ nor the administration’s version of events is entirely complete or accurate.