Extramarital affair ends storied career of Petraeus
Source: Agencies |
November 11, 2012, Sunday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
THE resignation of Central Intelligence Agency Director David Petraeus has brought a sudden and unexpected end to the public career of a four-star general who led United States troops in Afghanistan and Iraq and was thought to be a potential candidate for president.
Petraeus admitted to an extramarital affair in tendering his resignation, which President Barack Obama accepted on Friday.
Petraeus carried on the affair with his biographer Paula Broadwell, a reserve Army officer, according to several US officials with knowledge of the situation.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation discovered the relationship by monitoring Petraeus' emails, after being alerted Broadwell may have had access to his personal email account, two of the officials said.
Broadwell did not respond to messages seeking comment.
Lawmakers from both the Democrat and Republican parties joined Obama in praising Petraeus. Obama said in a statement that Petraeus had provided "extraordinary service to the United States for decades" and had given a lifetime of service that "made our country safer and stronger."
CIA Deputy Director Michael Morell will serve as acting director, Obama said. Morell was the key CIA aide in the White House to president George W. Bush during the September 11, 2001, terror attacks.
"I am completely confident that the CIA will continue to thrive and carry out its essential mission," Obama said.
The resignation comes at a sensitive time. The administration and the CIA have struggled to defend security and intelligence lapses before the attack that killed the US ambassador to Libya and three others. It was an issue during the presidential campaign that ended with Obama's re-election last Tuesday.
Petraeus, who turned 60 on Wednesday, has been married for 38 years to Holly Petraeus, whom he met when he was a cadet at the US Military Academy at West Point, New York. They have two children, and their son led an infantry platoon in Afghanistan.
Administration officials said the White House was first notified about the Petraeus affair on Wednesday.
Petraeus admitted to an extramarital affair in tendering his resignation, which President Barack Obama accepted on Friday.
Petraeus carried on the affair with his biographer Paula Broadwell, a reserve Army officer, according to several US officials with knowledge of the situation.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation discovered the relationship by monitoring Petraeus' emails, after being alerted Broadwell may have had access to his personal email account, two of the officials said.
Broadwell did not respond to messages seeking comment.
Lawmakers from both the Democrat and Republican parties joined Obama in praising Petraeus. Obama said in a statement that Petraeus had provided "extraordinary service to the United States for decades" and had given a lifetime of service that "made our country safer and stronger."
CIA Deputy Director Michael Morell will serve as acting director, Obama said. Morell was the key CIA aide in the White House to president George W. Bush during the September 11, 2001, terror attacks.
"I am completely confident that the CIA will continue to thrive and carry out its essential mission," Obama said.
The resignation comes at a sensitive time. The administration and the CIA have struggled to defend security and intelligence lapses before the attack that killed the US ambassador to Libya and three others. It was an issue during the presidential campaign that ended with Obama's re-election last Tuesday.
Petraeus, who turned 60 on Wednesday, has been married for 38 years to Holly Petraeus, whom he met when he was a cadet at the US Military Academy at West Point, New York. They have two children, and their son led an infantry platoon in Afghanistan.
Administration officials said the White House was first notified about the Petraeus affair on Wednesday.
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