WASHINGTON—Attorney General Eric Holder says a very critical interview took place the Friday before Election Day in the probe involving CIA Director David Petraeus and that afterward the Justice Department thought it appropriate to share information with top Obama administration officials.

A federal law enforcement official says that Nov. 2 interview was with Paula Broadwell, Petraeus' biographer and lover, and the questioning reassured FBI agents they knew what classified documents Broadwell had, where they came from and that Petraeus had not supplied them.

The official says the agents became satisfied they knew the complete story about classified documents at issue. On Nov. 6, the FBI informed National Intelligence Director James Clapper of the investigation.

The official was not authorized to speak on the record about the investigation and requested anonymity.