Reed says he won't take CIA top job

SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (WPRI) -- In the wake of David Petraeus's departure from his post as CIA director -- following an extramarital affair -- rumors were renewed rumor about a Rhode Island politician perhaps taking over the spot: Sen. Jack Reed.

Politico, the newspaper and blog, posted an article this weekend from reporter Reid J. Epstein, which included Reed among those in speculation.

"Whoever succeeds David Petraeus as CIA director will find themselves atop an agency facing the wrath of a Capitol Hill angry about the Benghazi attacks," Epstein wrote. "President Barack Obama could repeat the path he took when appointing Leon Panetta, who had no CIA experience but was steeped in relationships on Capitol Hill."

Epstein cited Reed as a perennial name for such positions.

Still, Monday morning at an event honoring veterans in South Kingstown, the retired Army paratrooper told Eyewitness News he's not interested in the director's job.

"I am very privileged to serve Rhode Island in the United States Senate, and that's my only goal and aspiration," he said.

"I'm sure the president will find a qualified director of the Central Intelligence Agency, and it will not be me."

Michael Morell, Petraeus's former second-in-command, who's now serving as acting CIA director, was also also on Epstein's short list. Morell previously served as acting director for a brief period last summer.