WASHINGTON — The head of the Judiciary Committee in the House of Representatives has asked for a detailed account of the federal probe into a scandal that led to the resignation of CIA Director David Petraeus last week. Lawmakers from both parties are demanding an official account of the FBI investigation into an extramarital affair between Petraeus and his biographer, Paula Broadwell. That investigation eventually exposed more personal ties between Petraeus and a socialite in Tampa, Florida, who was receiving e-mails from Broadwell. Marine General John Allen was also trading e-mails with the Tampa woman, Jill Kelley, in a related development. Lamar Smith, the Texas Republican who heads the committee, wrote the head of the FBI seeking a timeline of how officials handled the matter. “I write to seek clarification of the timeline of the investigation,” Smith wrote Wednesday, asking FBI Director Robert Mueller to give the exact dates and scope of the investigation within two weeks. “Has the FBI concluded that General Petraeus is not the subject of any criminal or intelligence-related investigation?” Smith asked in the letter. Gen. Allen has the backing of President Barack Obama and NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen. “The president thinks very highly of General Allen and of his service to his country, as well as the job he has done in Afghanistan,” White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters. “He has faith in General Allen,” Carney said, adding that the White House had known about the Allen strand to the investigation since Friday. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta urged against jumping to any conclusions about Allen and said the general has his “continued confidence.” “He certainly has my continued confidence to lead our forces and to continue the fight,” Panetta said. NATO chief Rasmussen told reporters in Brussels: “I have full confidence in General Allen.” — Agencies
