The chairman of a key congressional oversight committee has demanded an explanation from the FBI and Justice Department for why they did not provide early warning of an investigation into then CIA director David Petraeus.
In letters to Federal Bureau of Investigation chief Robert Mueller and Attorney General Eric Holder, House Judiciary Chairman Lamar Smith expressed concern over the failure to notify key administration officials earlier.
The FBI reportedly began the investigation as early as June, following a trail of emails that led to the discovery of an extramarital affair between Petraeus and his biographer Paula Broadwell.
Petraeus abruptly resigned last week, a surprise that greeted President Barack Obama just two days after his reelection, according to the White House.
Holder “was reportedly notified of the investigation in late summer,” Smith wrote in a letter to Mueller dated Tuesday and circulated Wednesday by the committee.
“However, Congress and Obama administration officials outside the FBI and Department of Justice were not notified of the investigation… until Director of National Intelligence James Clapper was notified at 5:00 pm on Election Day, November 6.”
Smith presented 15 curt questions to the officials.
“When were you first notified of the investigation?” Smith asked. “Did you or anyone within the FBI (or Justice Department) notify the president or anyone within the White House of the investigation? If so, on what date?”
Republicans in Congress have questioned why congressional leaders were not told earlier of the explosive investigation, particularly in the midst of a heated election season.
Congress has oversight authority into intelligence matters, and its leaders expect to be informed of substantial probes or actions surrounding administration of intelligence agencies such as the CIA.
Questions also are swirling about classified documents reportedly in the possession of Petraeus’ mistress.
“On what date did the investigation first implicate classified intelligence information?” Smith asked.
“Is the department pursuing an investigation into allegations that Ms. Broadwell was in possession of classified materials and the source of those materials?”
House asks why Petraeus probe details were delayed
