Ex-officers attack Obama over bin Laden raid leaks
Some of the group's leaders have been involved in GOP and Tea Party campaigns
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Video: Who leaked the classified information?
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Closed captioning of: Who leaked the classified information?
>>> the white house finds itself in damage control mode after what a lot of pundits are calling one of the worst weeks for the administration, politically speaking, in three and a half years. first came a remark about the economy that the president probably wishes he could have back. then came news of an investigation into who's leaking classified information . we get more from our white house correspondent, kristen welker.
>> this is very offensive.
>> the investigation has to be nonpartisan.
>> reporter: law maergs on both sides of the aisle turning up the heat, demanding to know who leaked classified administration about the cyber attacks against iran, drone strikes on terrorists, and foiled al qaeda plot. on friday, attorney general eric holder appointed two u.s. attorneys to investigate. senator john mccain called for an independent investigation. and continued to accuse the administration of leaking the secrets, for political gain.
>> it's obvious on its face that this information came from individuals who are in the administration. the president may not have done it himself, but the president is certainly responsible as commander in chief.
>> reporter: the president firmly denied those allegations.
>> the notion that my white house would purposely release classified national security information is offensive koert and his top aide adviser continued to shoot down accusations of white house leaks. republicans poungsed on the president's recent comments about the economy.
>> the private sector is doing fine.
>> reporter: the president quickly backed away from the statement. but today the romney campaign released this web ad . suggesting the president is out of touch. political analysts say with less than five months until election day , the president can't afford many more weeks like this past one, filled with negative headlines.
>> this is about as bad a week as a sitting president who is seeking re-election can have.
>> reporter: now, obama campaign officials say they will try to pivot this week and take direct aim at recent comments made by mitt romney in which he suggested the federal government should not increase funding to put teachers and firefighters back to work. romney campaign officials say the candidate was expressing his opposition to big government . lester?
>> kristen welker, thank you.
Photos: The compound
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Pakistani boys while demolition takes place on the compound where Osama bin Laden was slain in 2011 in the northwestern town of Abbottabad on Feb. 26, 2012.
• More photos from Abbottabad one year after Osama bin Laden (Aamir Qureshi / AFP - Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation -
An aerial view shows the residential area of Abbottabad, Pakistan, where Osama bin Laden was found and killed by U.S. commandos. (Asif Hassan / AFP - Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation -
A general view of the town of Abbottabad, May 6. Bin Laden was living in a large house close to a military academy in this garrison town, a two-and-a-half hour-drive from the capital, Islamabad. (Khaqan Khawer / EPA) Share Back to slideshow navigation -
Supporters of Pakistani religious party Jamaat-e-Islami rally to condemn the killing of bin Laden, in Abbottabad on May 6. (Aqeel Ahmed / AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation -
A Pakistani woman photographs her daughter on May , at a gate of the compound where bin Laden was caught and killed. (Aqeel Ahmed / AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation -
School girls pass by armed Pakistani policemen guarding the sealed entrance to the compound in Abbottabad, May 5, in which bin Laden had been living. (MD Nadeem / EPA) Share Back to slideshow navigation -
Part of a damaged helicopter rests in the compound after U.S. Navy SEAL commandos killed bin Laden, May 2, in a photo made available on May 4. (Reuters) Share Back to slideshow navigation -
Boys herd sheep past the compound where U.S. Navy SEAL commandos killed Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad May 5. (Akhtar Soomro / Reuters) Share Back to slideshow navigation -
Pakistani security officials arrive at the Osama bin Laden compound in Abbottabad on Wednesday, May 4. (Aamir Qureshi / AFP - Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation -
Local residents gather outside a burned section of bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad. (Aamir Qureshi / AFP - Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation -
A Pakistani police officer gestures at a checkpoint along a road leading to a house where bin Laden was captured and killed in Abbottabad. Area residents were still confused and suspicious about bin Laden's death, which took place before dawn on Monday. (Anjum Naveed / AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation -
Pakistani children look out from a high vantage point at bin Laden's compound on Tuesday, May 3. (Aqeel Ahmed / AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation -
Pakistan army troops remove canvas screens from outside the compound's house. (Anjum Naveed / AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation -
Neighbors and news media gather around the compound, right, after authorities ease security around the property. (Aqeel Ahmed / AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation -
A satellite image, taken June 15, 2005, shows the Abbottabad compound, center, where bin Laden was killed in on Monday. (DigitalGlobe via Reuters) Share Back to slideshow navigation -
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The compound is seen in flames after it was attacked early May 2 in this still image taken from cellphone video footage. (Reuters) Share Back to slideshow navigation -
Part of a damaged U.S. MH-60 helicopter lies the compound. The helicopter was destroyed by U.S. forces after a mechanical failure left it unable to take off. (Reuters) Share Back to slideshow navigation -
A still image from video obtained by ABC News shows blood stains in the interior of the house where bin Laden was killed. (ABC News via Reuters) Share Back to slideshow navigation -
Aerial views released by the Department of Defense show the area in Abbottabad in 2004, left, before the house was built, and in 2011, right. (Department of Defense via Reuters) Share Back to slideshow navigation -
A graphic released by the Department of Defense shows the compound where bin Laden was killed. (Department of Defense via Reuters) Share Back to slideshow navigation -
Pakistani soldiers and police officers patrol near the house, background, where bin Laden had lived. (Anjum Naveed / AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation -
The hideout of bin Laden is seen the day after his death. (Farooq Naeem / AFP - Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation -
Students look toward the compound from a nearby religious school in Abbottabad. (Faisal Mahmood / Reuters) Share Back to slideshow navigation -
Pakistani security officials survey the walls of the compound where bin Laden was killed. The outer walls were between 10 and 18 feet high. (MD Nadeem / EPA) Share Back to slideshow navigation -
Pakistani soldiers stand guard near the compound May 2. (Anjum Naveed / AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation -
Boys collect pieces of metal from a wheat field outside bin Laden's house, seen in the background, on May 3. People showed off small parts of what appeared to be a U.S. helicopter that the U.S. says malfunctioned and was blown up by the American team as it retreated. (Anjum Naveed / AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation -
Pakistani security officials stand guard at the main entrance to the compound on May 3. (MD Nadeem / EPA) Share Back to slideshow navigation -
An image from video seized from the walled compound of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad, and released by the U.S. Department of Defense, shows Osama bin Laden watching TV. He is said to have spent his last weeks in a house divided, amid wives riven by suspicions. On the top floor, sharing his bedroom, was his youngest wife and favorite. The trouble came when his eldest wife showed up and moved into the bedroom on the floor below. (Department of Defense via AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation
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Editor's note:
This image contains graphic content that some viewers may find disturbing.Click to view the image, or use the buttons above to navigate away.
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Editor's note:
This image contains graphic content that some viewers may find disturbing.Click to view the image, or use the buttons above to navigate away.
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Editor's note:
This image contains graphic content that some viewers may find disturbing.Click to view the image, or use the buttons above to navigate away.
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Editor's note:
This image contains graphic content that some viewers may find disturbing.Click to view the image, or use the buttons above to navigate away.
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Above: Slideshow (29) After the raid: Inside bin Laden's compound - The compoundAamir Qureshi / AFP - Getty Images
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Slideshow (81) After the raid: Inside bin Laden's compound - World reactionTimothy A. Clary / AFP - Getty Images
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