Romney receives first intelligence briefing

Mitt Romney received his first intelligence briefing Monday during a campaign stop in Los Angeles.

The regular intelligence briefings are customarily given to major-party presidential candidates after they secure the nomination to ease the transition if they go on to win the White House. 

The Republican nominee met with members of the intelligence community for around two hours at a federal building in the city, according to The Associated Press.

{mosads}The issue of Romney’s receiving the intelligence briefings came to the fore last week after the GOP candidate criticized President Obama’s handling of the violent protests against American embassies in the Middle East.

Romney issued a statement as the violence was ongoing that incorrectly criticized a statement issued by the U.S. Embassy in Cairo as the Obama administration’s “first response.” Romney also called the administration handling of the matter “disgraceful” and accused the president of sending “mixed messages” on the issue.

Romney will continue to receive regular intelligence briefings throughout the remaining weeks of the presidential campaign.