Secretary of State John Kerry says he will comply with “whatever responsibilities” he has to Congress in answering questions about the attack on the U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya. But he was silent on whether he would appear at a May 21 hearing under subpoena.

In his first public comments on the matter, Kerry said Tuesday that he was surprised to have been subpoenaed to testify before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform because the panel had not first invited him to appear. Kerry aides have said that he has previously scheduled travel plans and will be in Mexico on May 21.

Kerry did not mention his travel plans but said the State Department would respond because it has “absolutely nothing to hide.”

(AP)