Boston Herald Adriana Cohen column

Sept. 20--Talk about a despicable one-two punch. Not only was Winchester native and former Navy SEAL Glen Doherty hung out to dry by his own government in Benghazi, his family is now being deprived of the benefits from a life insurance policy he was forced to take out as a CIA contractor.

No matter what you think about the Benghazi scandal and how you vote, this is no way to treat a military hero.

As part of Doherty's security contract with the CIA -- which took him to hot spots around the globe -- he was required to buy a life insurance policy. The problem was, the policy pays benefits only to Doherty's immediate family. Since he was divorced and didn't have any children, the insurance company got to keep his premiums without paying out anything.

The company has refused to pay Doherty's estate, which includes his mother, Barbara, who lives in Woburn, and sister Kate Quigley of Marblehead. And the CIA has done nothing to make it right, either.

The Doherty family has been a class act since Glen's death. They haven't complained, even as the truth of the Benghazi cover-up has been exposed.

In their suit, the Dohertys say, quite rightly, that the policy was "essentially worthless" because Glen was paying thousands of dollars for something that would never pay his loved ones a nickel.

If those were the terms of the policy, why was Glen Doherty forced to buy it? Why pay for life insurance that has no value whatsoever upon one's death?

The family has reluctantly hired a lawyer to sue the insurance company. They're also filing claims against the State Department and CIA for inadequate security of the CIA compound where Doherty and another former Navy SEAL were killed battling terrorists.

A lawsuit against the government was the last thing they wanted to do. Hasn't this grieving family been through enough? These are good people who have taken the high road and refrained from saying a bad word about President Obama and Hillary Clinton for their mishandling of the terrorist attack, despite abundant opportunities to do so.

And this is the thanks they get.

Adriana Cohen is co-host of "Trending Now" on Boston Herald Radio. Go to adrianacohen.com or follow her on Twitter @AdrianaCohen16.

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