CIA Director David Patraeus resigned in a statement he released on Friday. The retired four-star general cited an extramarital affair with his one-time biographer Paula Broadwell. The shocking resignation has prompted concerns of a breach of national security among some leaders in Congress. They've also questioned the timing of the resignation. Richard Socarides, fmr. senior adviser to President Clinton and writer with the NewYorker.com, and Oliver McGee, Republican strategist and author of "Jumping the Aisle," join “Early Start” this morning to weigh in on the issue. They also discuss the topic of potential gridlock in Washington and the looming fiscal cliff.

The FBI started investigating the scandal early this summer, yet didn’t notify the White House until early this month. “It seems like there was some confusion around exactly what happened and what people were thinking early on,” Socarides says. “But it is fairly remarkable that in a situation like this, that the President and the White House would not be told until right before his resignation. And certainly I think the mistake that was made is that Congress ought to be informed at the same time that the senior people on the national security establishment are told.”

Congressman Peter King has stated that “it just doesn’t add up,” regarding the timing of events following the investigation and when Congress was notified.

“Essentially, what we’re looking at is a question of executive judgment,” “Falling on McGee says. “And executive judgment is about empathy, asking proper questions, and ultimately service. And when we look at the service of General Patreaus, he’s a war hero.” McGee says it is the responsibility of Congress to ask the appropriate questions of General Patreaus with consideration for his personal life and simultaneously ask, "is there really a national security risk associated?” McGee says, “So far, I’m not seeing what I’m seeing right now that there is not.”

Leaders in Washington are reeling after learning of the resignation of decorated retired CIA Director David Patraeus. Patraeus resigned in a statement he released on Friday, citing an extramarital affair with his one-time biographer Paula Broadwell. House and Senate leaders have raised questions about any potential threats on national security as a result and why they weren’t notified earlier about the investigation leading to his resignation. CNN’s Barbara Starr has the story.

“Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are questioning the timing behind the revelation,” Starr says. An investigation into Patraeus’s affair was already underway by October. “The White House says it was notified the day after the election, and the president, the following day.”

Patraeus’s resignation announcement stated, "After being married for over 37 years, I showed extremely poor judgment by engaging in an extramarital affair. Such behavior is unacceptable, both as a husband and as the leader of an organization such as ours."

The retired general was scheduled to testify later this week at Congressional hearings on Capitol Hill “to talk about what he knew and when knew it” regarding the Benghazi consulate attack, Starr reports. “Now, it will of course be his Deputy, and it remains to be seen whether Congress will take the extraordinary step of issuing a subpoena to compel him to appear at some point.”