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Subscribe to RSSCongressman Peter King, who serves as Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, tells TODAY's Matt Lauer that the FBI had an "absolute obligation to tell the president" as soon as General Petraeus' name came up in the agency's investigation.
The chairwoman of the Senate Intelligence Committee says she will seek testimony from former CIA Director David Petraeus, who resigned Friday as CIA director after acknowledging an extramarital affair, about the September attack on the consulate in Benghazi, Libya, that left four Americans dead.
“I have no doubt now that we will need to talk with David Petraeus and we will likely do that in closed session. But it will be done one way or another,” Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., told NBC News’ Andrea Mitchell on Monday.
Feinstein also she also may subpoena reports on a trip Petraeus took to Libya in the last year.
“I believe that Director Petraeus made a trip to the region shortly before this (Petraeus affair) became public,” Feinstein said on "Andrea Mitchell Reports." “We have asked to see the trip report. One person tells me he’s read it, and then we try to get it and they tell me it hasn’t been done. That’s unacceptable.”
“It may have some very relevant information to what happened in Benghazi,” Feinstein said.
A week and a half ago, Petraeus went to Tripoli and conducted a personal inquiry into the Benghazi attack, NBC News has confirmed.
Petraeus has not commented on his trip to Benghazi last month.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., tells NBC's Andrea Mitchell that "a decision was made somewhere not to brief" the Senate Intelligence Committee about on the Petraeus affair and compares the scandal to "peeling an onion," saying "every day another peel comes off," revealing "a new dimension"
Petraeus revelation began as cyber-harassment probe
Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens, information management officer Sean Smith and security personnel Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty were killed in the Benghazi attack on Sept. 11-12.
Petraeus, a decorated four-star general who received widespread praise for the surge strategy that helped stabilize the insurgency in Iraq, resigned as CIA director on Friday, citing an extramarital affair.
Numerous federal government officials have told NBC News that the married general had a relationship with his biographer, Paula Broadwell, 40, who authored “All In,” a book about Petraeus’ education.
Feinstein said she received no advance notice of Petraeus’ resignation or the affair.
The affair came to light after an FBI investigation into harassing emails sent to a family friend of Petraeus, Jill Kelley, sources have told NBC News. The investigation traced the emails to Broadwell, who revealed the affair. Petraeus also admitted the affair.
The FBI determined that no criminal charges would be filed as a result of the investigation.
Lawmakers question timing of Petraeus resignation
But now, Feinstein has linked the Petraeus affair with another controversy within the Obama administration – the attack on the Benghazi diplomatic mission in Libya.
The Senate Intelligence committee planned to start closed-door hearings on the Benghazi attack on Thursday with further proceedings expected to follow. Petraeus had been expected to testify at the hearings before he resigned as CIA director.
Republican lawmakers and Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney have criticized the administration’s evolving explanation of what triggered the Benghazi attack. Officials early on said it was a spontaneous reaction during a protest about an anti-Islamic film. Later, it was termed a planned terrorist attack.
Questions have also been raised about whether the consulate had adequate security and whether the State Department responded appropriately to requests for more protection.
Feinstein also questioned Broadwell's role as Petraeus' biographer.
“It’s a rather confused situation because at one point she was an Army reservist doing intelligence-related work, at the same time she was doing a journalist’s work, a biography on David Petraeus,” Feinstein said. “It seems to me these two things don’t go together, it seems to me someone who becomes active military should not be writing a book.”
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Leave a Comment:
No big deal...they're just trying to black marker out the parts about him working late with his biographer on the trip...
Interesting how Finestine didn't know anything at all about any of this until after the election! Huh ?!!
So the General was getting some on the side-not the first-won't be the last!
He needs to be questioned and testify as it was he that was in charge of the CIA at the time, not anyone else.
And I have some questions for Feinstein and Pelosi about who benefited the most from putting all the Oil in California off limits to drilling except for Private Holdings....And then I'd like to ask both them about reducing by 40% the Living Allowance Veterans get under the GI bill that is supposed to help them out with their education...Oh I few dozen other questions I'd like to get answers out of those two woemen on....And I'd like to ask Harry Reid about a certain land deal with the BLM there in Neveda....Oh yeah I have lots of questions and I believe they would tell me the truth of course that is why I would want them hooked up to a Lie Detector and a voice analyzer and have drug tests done on them afterward......They are so trustworthy you know...And the Next question would be for the President..Why is pushing for Veterans and Jobs so hard,,when he is the cause of their unemployment via discharging them by the 1000's...I supposed he wants them all to go to work to support Obama's hordes of non-producers..and that is the qestion, why isn't Obama pushing for his hordes of non-producers to get a job......
I talked with a retired Army colonel. He said (I didn't verify) that "he's amazed that the military turned out in such great numbers for Obama." He doubts the numbers are right!! He even expressed outright fraud in this election.
Who knows, but all this is a smolescreen for sure. Diane won't find anything; this is just BS.
Who cares. To busy working to pay for those who don't.
And won't
Interesting how all of these allegations come out after the election. I bet a million Obama and perhaps even the press uppers knew.
Our Press has their lips so permanently stuck to Obama's a$x$ they can't see ANYTHING glaring right in the front of them. It's historical.....the whole thing.
You base your opinion on what you know about your party. That means, this is the way the Repooplicans operate.
Thanks for proving my point... where did I write what party I "belong" too, moron?...and yes I did vote for Obama the 1st time....It was wrong to that and noooooww look what's happening. American is turning into a crape-hole now at light speed, and the press is the main engine!)
Why Feinstein acts like a Repooplicas? I believe she just the female version of Leibermann. She is probably pissed at the President because of Nathanyaho. Israelis These people think of America as their second country. To them Israel is the mother country and therefore, this country being used to let the bad Israelis and not the good ones to grab people's home, farms and give it to theJewish guy from Wisconsin for instance. Shame on us for being the real hypocrites. Does anyone care how many people are in jail if not killed by now in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar? Do we really care? No, it is in our interest to ignore them. All those people want is what we have here. No kings or puppets, but who give it rat's ass. Shame on us.
leibermann's probably got better teets though. "Not that there's anything wrong with that."
do you really think Feinstein, is going to get any answers, I can see the executive order being delivered already close this investigation I got re-elected, and next, contact the Russian leader it is time to talk, oh yea, sweet deals,
Two huge BS flags need to be raised:
1. Senate Intelligence Committee is an oxymoron.
2. Closed door hearing means no truths will be published to the American people.
Feinstein already knows what happened and when. She is merely trying to get another 15 minutes in the spotlight.
Maybe she's heard that he's "hot" and just wants a private session with him. :D
Here's what we do, drop all demorats off in Libya and let them investigate for the next 25 years or so. Like magic America would be saved. Libya however would get much worse...
You missed the memo cupcake. You lost another one. You still ain't in charge.
I applaud Senator Feinstein's response to this fiasco. I doubt,as a senator, she would have had prior knowledge to this, the president I am not so sure. He (the general) should testify about Libya, but I do think the hearings should be open, not closed. A very sad ending for a man from whom we expected more.
The senate, as been said, is like a fraternity; often shunning it's nose at the university chancellor.
I hope that's true!!
libtards will never get it, they still believe this is about sex. It's about 4 American deaths you niggardly fools...
Well miracles never cease to amaize us. An actual liberal who wants to get to the bottom of Benghazi.
What she is most piossed off about is that she was left out of the loop about the FBI invenstigation on Petraeus.
That's what has her panties in a WAD.
Panties the size of a two person tent!!
This gonna be so fun! in a month this will be all forgetting!
Seems like a lot of losers are out today! goes for the loser dems when bush won and the Iraq/9-11 coverup!
"The cliff is here, the cliff is here"
libtards will never get it, they still believe this is about sex. It's about 4 American deaths you niggardly fools...
Oh, we can now start talking about Bengazi - now that the elections are over. Nice coverup media.
Yeah like you ever stopped talking about it. Nothing ever changes.
Holy crap! How much money does this hag spend on hair color? Looking for a scapegoat!!!!!!!!!!!!
Being a California ultra conservative/TEA proponent that lives in an area that never had anyone we vote for elected outside of our local regions, I hope Ms. Feinstine follows through. I have never actually voted for her, but do admire some of the things she has done.
OK, so we had the Benghazi video lie that went on endlessly. Then we had a change of story; "It was a Terrorist Attack!"
What we don't know is why there & to a lesser extent, then? I know it was 9/11, but that just makes it "convenient!"
Why did they attack at that time, and at that place? Why diesel fuel? Why was FBI denied access, yet journalists could get in a day later?? Now the CIA derector resigns for an affair that nobody cares about?
Hey, I'm a freaking airplane mechanic and I could come up with better stories then these clowns!!
why a closed session?
because both sides want the story put under the rug!
Cause in the end, dems and repubs will be at fault!
2 party system is fantastic!
Congress; "the peoples house" has to be included!!
Oh Please, oh please, don't let the entire Congress lose sight of the real issue. The ECONOMY!!!!!!!! Yes, wrongs were done and egos were hurt, but the real issue facing our nation right now is the economy and as long as the media takes Congress on a useless witch hunt, we will never be able to resolve the issues that impact our economic recovery.
What is really scary is the pure ignorance being posted here by people who are supposed to care about this country.
The truth should be made known... regardless of party or affiliations.
Anyone covering up the truth should be punished ... regardless of party or affiliation.
Citizens need to hold ALL POLITICIANS accountable.
Look,,,,I don't care anymore!! This last election was fixed, and no one can convice me otherwise! I will live out my life as an American in spirit only.
I still think the Stones have to add a verse to their song; Sympathy for the Devil" that goes like this:
"I was around in Amerika, when I saw it was time for hope & change"
“Lied and cheat to get my way, in order for all to pay”
"Pleased to meet you; could Barak Obama be my name?"
Are the Stones really modern day prophets??
I know,,,I'm just a right-wing nut; and lovin it. I just don't care anymore. When's my next entitlement check coming???
I understand... I don't hold out much hope for this country because there is so much ignorance. People should have to pass a test before voting. An enormous amount of voters would be eliminated for lack of knowledge. And I wish both parties would disband because people vote like these parties are clubs.
In the last 2 decades - people stopped voting on issues. They now just vote for images and parties.
Government is too big and intrusive. It's also too expensive and in the end, will be our downfall. Politicians love not being held accountable....
Senate Intelligence Committee Chairwoman Feinstein: 'We will need to talk to David Petraeus' about Benghazi
This is just an effort to try & make Benghazi some type of conspiracy to make President Obama look bad after taking the election in a land slide.
In all honesty, If Mrs. Feinstein is trying to get to the bottom of this BS, It must be even worse than we thought it was. I hope they ALL hang his ass.
Lanndslide?? Great song, but not reality in this case. Won? Yes!
Landslide - no!!