WASHINGTON — The political fallout is starting — and it’s toxic.
Lawmakers yesterday returned to Capitol Hill after a seven-week vacation to find the White House engulfed by the expanding David Petraeus sex scandal, with members of both parties demanding answers.
Some Republicans charged that the unfolding drama was a “November surprise” kept secret until after President Obama won re-election last week so as not to hurt his chances at the polls.
“This is a top national security official, and the question we’re going to have is, was the timing related to the election? That’s what we’re going to pursue,” Texas GOP Rep. Mac Thornberry, a member of the House Intelligence Committee, seethed to Fox News.
Lawmakers had barely digested the downfall of Petraeus when the scandal spread to Marine Gen. John Allen, the top US commander in Afghanistan.
The FBI probe of Petraeus uncovered hundreds of e-mails — described as “flirtatious” — between the married Allen and Tampa socialite Jill Kelley, who started the investigation after Petraeus’ paramour allegedly sent her threatening e-mails.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), head of the Senate Intelligence Committee, wants Petraeus to testify before the committee about the terror attack on the US consulate in Libya.
After Petraeus’ affair with biographer Paula Broadwell came to light, the former general resigned as head of the CIA, which has been under fire for its role in alleged security lapses at the consulate and for the information it later gave the White House on what sparked the deadly violence.
Petraeus indicated that, as he had resigned his post, he wouldn’t testify before the committee. But Feinstein said that since he traveled to Libya in October to investigate the Benghazi attack, he should tesify.
Feinstein said she also wants to question him on his potentially compromising affair.