The mother of the U.S. ambassador killed in the 2012 attack in Benghazi has asked that Donald Trump and the Republican Party stop the "opportunistic and cynical" use of her son's name and death.
Christopher Stevens was among four Americans killed in the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi on Sept. 11, 2012.
"As Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens’s mother, I am writing to object to any mention of his name and death in Benghazi, Libya, by Donald Trump’s campaign and the Republican Party," Stevens’ mother, Mary Commanday, said in a short letter published in The New York Times online Saturday.
"I know for certain that Chris would not have wanted his name or memory used in that connection. I hope that there will be an immediate and permanent stop to this opportunistic and cynical use by the campaign,” she said in the letter.
Related: House Republicans Release Long-Awaited Benghazi Report
Republicans at the party’s national convention this week repeatedly brought up Benghazi in attacking presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.
Trump in a speech accepting his party’s nomination Thursday referred to the victims of the Benghazi attack, who he claimed were "left helpless to die at the hands of savage killers" by Clinton, who was secretary of State at the time.
Related: Republicans Escalate Violent Rhetoric Against Clinton
Steven’s sister in an interview published in The New Yorker last month said she does not hold Clinton responsible for the attack.
Anne Stevens said in the interview that the Benghazi mission was understaffed, and her brother knew that but believed it was worth it to promote better relations with North Africa and the Middle East.
To "use Chris's death as a political point," Anne Stevens added, "is not appropriate." She said it would be more useful if Congress increased security resources for State Department facilities around the world, particularly in North Africa and the Middle East.
State Department communications specialist Sean Smith and CIA security contractors Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty were the other Americans killed in the attack.
