FBI Whistleblower Tipped Cantor Off to Petraeus Affair

Deep in the New York Times report about "harassing" emails that Paula Broadwell allegedly sent another woman lies this coda in the downfall of David Petraeus: An FBI whistleblower reached out to House Majority Leader Eric Cantor two weeks ago to alert him to the affair. “I was contacted by an FBI employee concerned that sensitive, classified information may have been compromised and made certain Director Mueller was aware of these serious allegations and the potential risk to our national security,” said Cantor yesterday in a statement.

Cantor's chief of staff passed along the information to the FBI itself on Oct. 31; it was nearly a week later before Petraeus' own boss learned of the allegations. Cantor's office isn't elaborating, other than to call the Times report "accurate." Politico notes that the reveal raises questions about how the investigation unfolded, not to mention the FBI's relationship with the CIA. CIA honchos are slated to brief the House Intelligence Committee next week on the investigation. (More David Petraeus stories.)