Petraeus to testify on Benghazi attack despite scandal

David Petraeus

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Former CIA Director David Petraeus is expected to appear before the Senate intelligence committee examining the September 11 attack on the American compound in Benghazi, Libya.

Initially, CIA Director Mike Morell was set to replace Petraeus, who recently resigned from office following revelations over his extra-marital affair with biographer Paula Broadwell.

Despite the scandal, however, lawmakers argued there was no reason to exempt Petraeus from the hearing. Those concerned now question whether Petraeus might have been aware of the FBI investigation against him at the time of his earlier hearing on September 14 and adapted his testimony accordingly.

The Benghazi attack, which claimed the lives of US Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans, has been the subject of an ongoing, heated discussion between Democrats and Republicans. The sitting President's Republican opponents have used the incident to cast doubt on the truthfulness and competence of the Obama administration.