Congressman Lynch: Petraeus' Benghazi Testimony 'Fair Game'
BOSTON (CBS/AP) - Massachusetts Rep. Steven Lynch says he accepts General David Petraeus' resignation but does not rule out Petraeus being called to testify in the investigation of the Benghazi attack.
Petraeus resigned as the head of the CIA Friday after he admitted to having an affair with his biographer.
The case has sparked an uproar in Congress over FBI investigative tactics and complaints by lawmakers they weren't told soon enough about the probe rocking the intelligence and law enforcement establishment.
As member of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Lynch said he believes Petraeus exercised poor judgement.
"I've spent a lot of time in the Middle East I've had dozens of meetings with Petraeus over the years," Lynch told WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Joe Mathieu Monday.
"He was a very well-respected general. He did something that was tremendously stupid and as he says himself, very poor judgement but I accept his statement and the President has accepted his resignation so I don't think there is any more I need to dig into."
Petraeus had been scheduled to appear before congressional committees on Thursday to testify about the Sept. 11 attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, that killed four Americans, including U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens. Acting CIA Director Michael Morell was expected to testify in place of Petraeus, and lawmakers said he should have the answers to their questions.
Lynch told WBZ that he doesn't rule out the possibility that Congress will compel Petraeus to testify about Benghazi at a later date.
"There may be reason to bring in former attorney generals, former generals, former officials, who were responsible for making certain decisions, that's fair game," Lynch said.
"If we think he played a role here in Benghazi and had a role in the order of protocol and had a role in that decision, I think it's probably appropriate he be brought in."
