As President Obama prepared for his first full news conference in
eight months on Wednesday amid burgeoning scandals over the terrorist
assault in Benghazi, Libya, and the CIA director’s resignation, spokesman Jay Carney said the White House can juggle those questions and still pursue a broad second-term agenda.
The Sept. 11 terrorist attack is certain to play a major role at Wednesday’s news conference, with the death of four Americans, including that of the U.S. ambassador to Libya, drawing ever-closer scrutiny on Capitol Hill. Now the White House is also grappling with questions about retired Gen. David H. Petraeus, who resigned as CIA director last week after admitting to an extramarital affair.
Mr. Carney said Tuesday the president was “certainly surprised” to learn about Mr. Petraeus‘ downfall, but he insisted it would not distract from pressing postelection matters in Washington — a line Mr. Obama will likely emphasize Wednesday.
After shifting the narrative and deflecting for nearly two months on Benghazi and now with Mr. Petraeus‘ ill-timed departure, the White House can expect some of the sharpest questions to focus on the Sept. 11 attack on the U.S. Consulate and what the Pentagon and the CIA knew and when they knew it.
Reporters have also asked Mr. Carney for a timeline of what the president and his top advisers knew — a plea they will likely take straight to Mr. Obama on Wednesday.
The Sept. 11 terrorist attack is certain to play a major role at Wednesday’s news conference, with the death of four Americans, including that of the U.S. ambassador to Libya, drawing ever-closer scrutiny on Capitol Hill. Now the White House is also grappling with questions about retired Gen. David H. Petraeus, who resigned as CIA director last week after admitting to an extramarital affair.
Mr. Carney said Tuesday the president was “certainly surprised” to learn about Mr. Petraeus‘ downfall, but he insisted it would not distract from pressing postelection matters in Washington — a line Mr. Obama will likely emphasize Wednesday.
After shifting the narrative and deflecting for nearly two months on Benghazi and now with Mr. Petraeus‘ ill-timed departure, the White House can expect some of the sharpest questions to focus on the Sept. 11 attack on the U.S. Consulate and what the Pentagon and the CIA knew and when they knew it.
Reporters have also asked Mr. Carney for a timeline of what the president and his top advisers knew — a plea they will likely take straight to Mr. Obama on Wednesday.
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