Ex-CIA Director Hayden reacts to Petraeus resignation

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Obviously the biggest story of the day top lawmakers are now reacting to the resignation of CIA chief.

David Petraeus after the shocking news broke on Friday.

That he was being blackmailed by his mistress and biographer seen here here is Senate Intelligence Committee chairwoman Dianne Feinstein.

No I have not been told there was an affair.

What I've been told is that there was somebody else that he was he knew and was close to.

And that.

This is -- well.

Sent these threatening.

Emails to her and she was frightened and she went to the FBI.

So many questions here this morning -- so.

The timing of all of this is getting a lot of attention this morning in some say it's very fishy.

We're very glad to be joined this morning -- general Michael Hayden former CIA director obviously in a great position.

To understand what would have been known not known here is also the principle a principle of the Chertoff group good morning -- very good to have when asked.

He must have been shocked what -- your reaction when you heard -- this.

On -- it was very shocking and I've talked to some folks who are still in the agency -- And they were shocked as well this is this was totally unexpected.

Unexpected indeed an and the details are still pouring out but but one -- things as being raised this morning as he was supposed to testify.

At the hearings this week with regard to what happened in -- Ozzie.

At and a lot of questions about the timeline here did the president know about this before the election.

So what what do you make of the timing of all of this and whether or not he will testify to what he knows about what happened and -- does it.

Well let let me start with the testifying I think it's important that the director testify.

I don't think it's critical that he testify this week I think he deserves some personal space here Mike morale.

The acting director probably as we speak Martha his meeting with his team getting all the facts right.

So he can go and contribute to the discussions in front of both Intel committees this week bit.

General Petraeus will have a a personal insight into this because he did visit Libya after the attack and over time I think he.

He owes it to the committees to sharing those insights with them.

But regarding the timing I didn't -- it's mysterious.

I -- don't have insight into it.

It appears that the bureau was balancing that law enforcement process.

The privacy is some individuals involved it.

Hanging out there is is that requirement in -- to keep the Intelligence Committees.

Fully and currently informed about significant intelligence activities.

And so it's not surprising that senator Feinstein chairman Rogers is showing up about a bit of Pique at not being -- in on this a bit earlier.

Yeah the -- so many questions about this in -- I mean when you look at who knew and who was told.

You -- the former CIA director eight you know if what if what would be the chain of command in terms of revealing this information Dianne Feinstein says she was not told crew members of congress found out about it through the -- And yet the FBI -- who was investigating it would've definitely had to have contacted the Department of Justice in the loop would they not.

-- I would I would think -- given how the investigation played out.

I think he wouldn't be able to do this without keeping some senior officials injustice.

In an Indy FBI informed as you -- four bit that you're asking my view and and Martha this this is an unprecedented sort of thing.

There's no rule book or or history as to how you handled these kinds of events.

And so these folks may have been making it up is as they went along doing their best they could balancing all of these important interest -- You know from some perspectives they may have gotten it right -- other perspectives they got it wrong.

You know not might.

What are my initial reactions before you know I learned more of the details here was why is this why is it anyone's business I mean it's a sad thing.

In stay in married 37 years obviously on a personal level but but what puts it over the line and makes it.

Anybody's business.

Yeah well yeah -- that's a very good question because some -- speculated that did director may have been able to stay on.

Now the press accounts have DNI Director of National Intelligence clapper.

Calling General Petraeus and in essence letting him know that he knew and recommending that gave resign and Jim -- in the myself all come from the same culture.

That's -- perfectly expected natural answer from any of us that.

More importantly -- that an awful lot.

Of of the authority that the director of CIA gets.

Isn't the kind work we experience in the armed forces.

It's more or less moral authority with regard to folks who are out there really playing on the edge every day.

And perhaps director Petraeus felt that.

The appearance of this event would erode his moral authority within within the CIA not may not have.

That he judged that it might only get I think the honorable thing by taking himself out of that equation.

You know the timing issue raise a lot of questions -- there's been speculation and reporting.

I and in the relationship between the administration in General Petraeus whether or not it was a good relationship so now I have this issue where he comes out after the spend -- situation.

And really shocked a lot of the people who were inside that briefing when he said that he believed that it was because of the movie.

That that was what prompted -- they thought that was uncharacteristic.

Of him.

-- to -- presented it that way.

Now I have got this timing where this year is coming up in a few days where he would have to sit in front and that panel and told the truth.

He was gonna be questioned as to why he would have said that why would he has said that it was about the movie.

When it was seems so clear.

For what we know now that it was not.

-- does any of this you know raise red flags for you.

Now that perhaps not red flags but it -- certainly legitimate questions.

You know knowing what we now know I'm sure chairman Rogers senior member -- -- -- senator Feinstein senator Chambliss.

What what I had this personal dialogue.

With director -- and frankly.

And these circumstances I think he would want to have that dialogue as well to kind of set the record straight.

What about Eric Holder -- in your experience would he have had to have been aware of the situation before the election and as it was unfolding.

Yeah I I don't want it don't pretend to speak authoritatively on this because I've never worked inside the Department of Justice but all of my instincts suggest.

This is the kind of thing that would have to go up.

To that level for this to proceed as it did and would -- be -- to you for him not to share that with the president.

I you know I I just don't know you've got to privacy question you've got an ongoing law enforcement question now if he -- the president.

He opens himself up to criticism.

Of political influence on the investigation so.

You know these are these are tough questions that we do deserve some transparency about them and we do deserve some answers about.

Obviously.

-- Rob Lowe has now said things about Libyan militants she senator at a speech in University of Denver.

That they were being held at the CIA an accident that could be the reason.

That that that annex was overtaken and -- -- I had never heard that before had you ever heard anything like that before and where would she get that information do you think if not from Petraeus is is one of the questions out there.

I don't think that she got it from General Petraeus I think that the information is wrong.

That Martha doesn't that -- suggest why this kind of long term relationship.

Actually does present some problems if she were just you know Ph.D.

candidate -- King's College in London.

That wouldn't have gotten any attention and no one would have given it any authenticity.

But because of this relationship.

We suddenly do I think she was just wrong I don't know where she got.

And because of questions array is that you know may be what prompts the resignation because you don't want those questions -- -- at least.

General Hayden before I let you go obviously it's veterans day and I know that our veterans are in your thoughts as they -- and all of ours on this day.

Something on that for me if you went before we go.

You -- I had the honor.

Saturday morning to give a presentation in front of 700 veterans in my hometown of Pittsburgh.

Let me tell you I was just blown away by the depth that service that was represented in that room all the way back to war war -- They they made an announcement that veterans of the war on terror please stand up and it suddenly occurred to me for the first time hey I'm all veterans.

And I probably stood up with those other individuals it was a very moving experience.

We thank you for your service as we do all of the people in that -- -- all across the country and I and I hope that everyone remembers the significance of what today as it is veterans' day.

And Michael Hayden we thank you so much general for me want to thank -- thank you.

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Ex-CIA Director Hayden reacts to Petraeus resignation

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