Former CIA Director David Petraeus testified on Capitol Hill Friday that the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, was an act of terrorism committed by al Qaeda-linked militants. That's according to Rep. Peter King of New York, who spoke to reporters after a closed hearing in the House, which lasted an hour and 20 minutes.
US-Petraeus-Allen-Investigation
Investigators are trying to determine whether former CIA Director David Petraeus used any of the resources of the agency he once led to carry out an extramarital affair with his biographer, a U.S. official told CNN.
US-Petraeus-What-We-Know
The Petraeus scandal: What we know
US-Petraeus-Kelley-Contract
A New York businessman says Tampa, Florida, socialite Jill Kelley asked him for an $80 million commission if she used her influence to win a South Korean business contract.
POLITICS
POL-Fiscal-Cliff
President Barack Obama and congressional leaders wrapped up their first "fiscal cliff" meeting since the election Friday with a confident tone that had both sides suggesting an agreement could be reached before January 1, when hefty federal spending cuts and tax raises are scheduled to take effect.
POL-Judge-Denies-West-Recount-Request
A Florida judge on Friday denied Rep. Allen West's request for a recount of all early ballots in his race for re-election because his appeal did not meet the requirements for a temporary injunction, CNN affiliate WPBF reported. While the Democratic candidate, Patrick Murphy, declared victory last week in the close contest in Florida's 18th Congressional District, West has yet to concede, citing the razor thin margin between the two.
POL-Tennessee-Republican-Abortion
An anti-abortion Republican congressman from Tennessee, first elected in 2010 with support from tea party activists, testified at divorce proceedings in 2001 that he and his wife mutually agreed on her getting two abortions, according to court transcripts released to CNN Friday. Rep. Scott DesJarlais, who won re-election last Tuesday by more than ten points, also admitted in the court documents to having sex with some of his patients and colleagues when he was a practicing physician, and to prescribing one of those patients painkiller medications. DesJarlais is a staunch anti-abortion conservative, with a history of votes in the House of Representatives that would restrict a woman's right to choose an abortion. His campaign website says "All life should be cherished and protected. We are pro-life."
POL-Carlos-Gutierrez-Immigration-Reform-Super-PAC
After Mitt Romney and fellow Republicans failed to garner the support of the nation's fastest growing minority group in November's election, Carlos Gutierrez, the man who led Romney's outreach to Hispanic voters, said he and Republicans advocating for immigration reform are creating super PAC in hopes of repairing the party's image among the pivotal voting block.
POL-RNC-Chairman-Priebus-Reelection
Despite a rough election for the GOP, Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus is seeking re-election and Friday reached out to state Republican officials across the country asking for their support, sources familiar with the conversations told CNN.
U.S.
U.S.-Oil-Platform-Fire
An explosion tore through an oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico on Friday, triggering a fire and injuring at least 11 people, authorities said.
US-Sleep-Tent-Recall
Small portable sleep tents for infants and small children may pose a safety hazard, prompting the Consumer Product Safety Commission and KidCo Inc. to issue a voluntary recall of more than 220,000 PeaPod and PeaPod Plus Travel Beds.
New-York-Terror-Sentencing
A Bosnian immigrant who authorities said came within days of carrying out a plot to bomb New York City's subway system was sentenced to life in prison on Friday.
