There are reports that the FBI notified Attorney General Eric Holder months ago that former CIA Director David Petraeus‘ name had surfaced in an investigation that ultimately uncovered what Petraeus has now admitted–his involvement in an extramarital affair.
Holder never told the President. The White House says it first became aware of the Petraeus investigation and affair last Wednesday–the day after the election. The president accepted Petraeus’ resignation two days later.
Here’s the question. Why did Holder withhold this information from the president and from Congress? Yes, the FBI has a decades-old policy not to brief the White House or Congress in the middle of a criminal probe. But there’s an important exception to that policy. That exception: when it involves a security threat.
That’s exactly what unfolded with the Petraeus situation. This represented a significant security threat–a security compromise. Imagine, the president discussing the nation’s top secrets with his CIA Director who was being investigated by the FBI, something the president apparently did not know.
Holder had a responsibility to brief the president when he learned about the Petraeus probe. As I told Megyn Kelly on FOX News today, his failure to do so is inexplicable. You can watch the interview here.
We know that Petraeus actually travelled to Libya and conducted his own investigation of the Consulate attack that claimed the lives of four Americans, including the U.S. Ambassador. He was prepared to testify in a closed hearing this week in Congress. But, with his resignation and departure from the CIA, that’s not going to happen. Members of Congress still want to hear from him, whether he appears voluntarily or is subpoenaed.
I am hopeful that Petraeus will come forward to testify about his findings. America deserves answers to exactly what happened in Benghazi.
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