Making his first public comments on the raging row over thesex scandal figuring former CIA Director David Petraeus and American forces'commander in Afghanistan Gen John Allen, saying he has no evidence at thispoint that they hurt national interests.
"I have no evidence at this point from what I've seenthat classified information was disclosed that in any would have had negativeimpact on our national security", Obama told his first press conferencesince his re-election as President for a second term.
"Obviously, there's an ongoing investigation. I don'twant to comment on the specifics of the investigation," Obama said inresponse to a question if there was any breach of national security due to thescandal.
Obama said FBI has its own protocols in terms of how theyproceed. "I am gonna let rector (Mitchell) Mueller (acting CIA Director)and others examine those protocols and make some statements to the publicgenerally," he said.
However, Obama said, "General Petraeus had anextraordinary career. He served this country with great distinction in Iraq, inAfghanistan and as head of the CIA.
"By his own assessment, he did not meet the standardsthat he felt were necessary as the director of CIA with respect to thispersonal matter that he is now dealing with his family and with his wife. Andit's on that basis that he tendered his resignation and it's on that basis thatI accepted it," he said.
60-year-old Patraeus quit as CIA chief after enforcementagencies identified Jill Kelley, 37, as the woman whose report of harassinge-mails eventually exposed an extramarital affair between Petraeus and PaulaBroadwell, a former Army officer who wrote a biography of the retired four-stargeneral.
The FBI concluded from the contents of the e-mails thatBroadwell and Petraeus were having an affair.
