WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – Former CIA Director David Petraeus told Congress yesterday that he and the spy agency had sought to make clear from the outset that September’s deadly attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, involved an al Qaeda affiliate, lawmakers said.
Petraeus told lawmakers that “there were extremists in the group” that launched the attack on the diplomatic mission, describing them as affiliates of al Qaeda and other groups, said Representative C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, the top Democrat on the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee.
“The fact is that he clarified it,” Ruppersberger said.
Petraeus appeared behind closed doors before the House and Senate intelligence panels the week after quitting his CIA post because of an extramarital affair. He made no public remarks.
Another lawmaker, Republican Representative Peter King, said Petraeus’ account in the closed-door session differed from the assessment the CIA chief gave to Congress two months ago, just days after the Sept. 11 attack that killed U.S.
Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans.
“He also stated that he thought all along he made it clear that there were significant terrorist involvement, and that is not my recollection of what he told us on September 14,” King said.
