The ranking Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee said he’s spoken to former CIA Director David Petraeus about still testifying on the Benghazi attack — and the answer is not now.
Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) said on ABC’s This Week this morning that his committee wasn’t told about the Petraeus investigation — reportedly centering around his mistress and emails — until Friday, when the general’s resignation was announced.
“He and I have already had a conversation. You know, he’s trying to put his life back together right now and that’s what he needs to focus on,” Chambliss said in regard to Thursday’s closed-door Benghazi hearing, at which Petraeus was supposed to testify.
“His very capable deputy Morrell, Mike Morrell, is going to be testifying next Thursday. That’s fine, because he certainly was there when all of the decisions for made relative to Benghazi,” the senator said. “But at the end of the day, I would not rule out General Petraeus being called to testify. That still could happen at some point in time.”
Committee Chairwoman Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) said on Fox News Sunday that Petraeus “is going to be part of the hearing process” and to call the former director to testify “will be a committee decision.”
“I think we should have this first hearing, which is the way they wanted to set it up and then, the committee will make the decision,” she said.
Democrats strived to separate the Petraeus resignation and the Benghazi hearings.
“I do think that the CIA will have the capacity and will be able to respond to questions on Capitol Hill regarding Benghazi, and I think those are actually two very separate things, and we’ll get to the oversight on Benghazi and Libya over these next several weeks, and then General Petraeus will have a chance to put his life together separate and apart from his service,” said Rep. Donna Edwards (D-Md.) said on ABC.
Rep. Aaron Schock (R-Ill.), appearing after Chambliss, predicted that the Petraeus affair is “going to make for a little more exciting lame-duck season.”
“I think we’re going to find out more. I mean, right now, it’s all speculation. We don’t know even when the affair began, whether or not some of the questions he was asked during his vetting process he may have been untruthful for,” Schock said. “It’s obviously a tragedy. He was well respected by the Bush administration, rewarded by the Obama administration.”
Heh, when I first read the headline I thought it said “Petraeus to Try to ‘Put Lie Back Together’ Before Any Benghazi Testimony”
Unacceptable. So much for Petraeus’ vaunted sense of duty. If he still has a shred of it, he’ll be available on-call without complaint. He himself would expect no less of those who worked for him.
The House committee Mike Rogers runs needs to conduct its own hearings and determine both its agenda and slate of testifiers without looking to the Senate side. Feinstein is looking to slow-walk and stuff as much of this as she can.
Citizens — pressure your Congresscritters on all this!
Also, apart from Petraeus, anyone and everyone in the FBI must needs be hauled before the committees as well.
Oh, boo-hoo. He’s a war hero and was the director of the CIA–obviously he can walk and chew gum at the same time. Let him testify during the day and spend the evenings “putting his life back together.”
After all, who is responsible for breaking his life apart? He seemed to have no trouble doing that while fighting a war in Afghanistan.
BooHoo indeed! We have two West Pointers involved here! Whatever happened to “Duty, Honor Country?!!!!!!
Why should anyone care if Petraeus gets his life back?
How the mighty have fallen. I was a Petraeus fan, and I grieve for the shredded reputation and record that he has left behind. No pun intended, but he made his bed and now he has to lie in it. He does not deserve, nor should he be given, any “time to put his life together”. In an earlier time and an ocean away, it would have been said that he “took the Queen’s shilling” and the responsibilities that act entails. In today’s vernacular, he needs to “man up” and supply all the facts without fear or favor.
Unacceptable, Sen. Chambliss. You too can let the honorable Senator know if you agree – http://www.chambliss.senate.gov/public/index.cfm
I…do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign or domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservations or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which I am about to enter; So help me God.
Hmmm. Except when I want to do something more important than my word of honor?
When I took my oath I understood that fundamentally it doesn’t expire until my body assumes ambient temperature.
…more than a husband who will let his country down once more, right after letting his wife down, and before that letting his country down in a couple of other ways. But before that he did a decent job at work we hear, mostly because of his bragging about how great he was to any reporters within earshot.
Is there an Intrade contract on Mrs Betrayus changing her name in 2012?
So, the rumor that Holly knew about the affair all along and the fact that Holly works for the the government?
Bill Clinton and Petraeus are starting the Infidel Party
How about some testimony from Africom Commander General Carter Ham – supposedly relieved of command for trying to aid the Benghazi consulate? Or Stennis Carrier Strike Group commander Rear Admiral Charles Gaouette relieved a couple of weeks ago for “inappropriate judgment” shortly after the Benghazi attack?
I bet they would have interesting things to say if they were protected.
The candyazz Repub Senators need to get with it and drag dumbazz rat-face Petraeus into court along with his dykey gal friend who has spilled the beans on the CIA in Bengazi. Both need to be in the brig until they are sentenced!