Petraeus Resignation Linked to Benghazi

By Marcos Gonzalez

As the Sept. 11 attack on the U.S. Consulate in Libya is looked into further, one testimony is most anticipated, that is the testimony of former CIA director David Petraeus.

Petraeus, a former director of the CIA, resigned last week due to an extramarital affair with former Army officer Paula Broadwell. The investigation has spread to include the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, General John Allen. Allen reportedly had e-mailed Jill Kelley, a Florida socialite who leaked the Petraeus scandal.

Four GOP senators are demanding the White House open up to Congress about the attack on the U.S. embassy in Benghazi that killed a U.S. ambassador and three other American employees.

Petraeus agreed to give evidence to the intelligence committees on Friday, looking into the security failures that lead to the ambassador’s death. This includes an allegation against the State Department claiming they had turned down appeals for more officials in Libya for protection, and the accusation that the CIA and other agencies gave no warning of possible signs of attack.

Petraeus denied Republican accusations that his resignation had a relation to the CIA’s role in the attacks in Benghazi. He said his resignation was solely the result of his affair.

His affair with Broadwell prompted the US defense secretary, Leon Panetta, to order a review of ethics training for military officers.

The FBI has discovered classified material discovered in Broad well’s house and on her home computer. Petraeus has since denied giving secret documents to his biographer and lover.

Sen. Diane Feinstein has been among several lawmakers who believe they should have been notified of the ongoing FBI investigation that led to the disclosure of Petraeus’s affair with Paula Broadwell.

Feinstein said Petraeus’s testimony will be limited to the Benghazi attacks. The committees have agreed not to ask about the Broadwell affair.

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