Obama says National Security is not in dangerPresident Barack Obama said that he has seen no evidence to indicate that the national security of the United States was imperiled by the scandal involving the former CIA director David Petraeus and his biographer Paula Broadwell. The president said this during his first news conference after winning re-election.

Petraeus resigned last week after his affair with Broadwell was exposed. An FBI investigation found out that Broadwell had classified materials at her home and on her personal computer. President Obama nominated Petraeus as CIA chief in April 2011. He said that he learned of the intelligence chief’s affair a week ago, a day after he won his re-election bid.

Petraeus met with President Obama at the White House November 8. During the meeting he offered his resignation from the position. President Obama accepted the resignation the next day.

The president praised Petraeus for his extraordinary career and for his leadership as a four star Army general in Afghanistan and Iraq as well as head of the CIA. He said that Petraeus gave the nation an extraordinary service and hopes that he and his family could be able to move forward from the scandal. The president added that the issue should just be a side note on Petraeus’ extraordinary career.

President Obama maintained that the FBI acted properly in following the protocols in place. He added that he would give his final judgment after the investigation is complete. He said that he doesn’t have all the information yet.

The president was also pressured by the Republican lawmakers to investigate the September 11 terrorist attacks in Benghazi and his administration’s response to it. He said that he was willing to cooperate with Congress with regards to the issue.

President Obama dismissed the criticisms received by United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice who was wrong in stating right after the attack that it was a result of spontaneous protests over an anti-Islam movie. He said that if Senator McCain and Senator Graham want to go after somebody, they should go after him.