- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

US DOJ Mulls Bringing Criminal Charges Against Former CIA Chief: Reports

© East News / AP Photo/ISAF, FileThe former Commander of International Security Assistance Force and U.S. Forces-Afghanistan Gen. Davis Petraeus, left, shaking hands with Paula Broadwell, co-author of "All In: The Education of General David Petraeus."
The former Commander of International Security Assistance Force and U.S. Forces-Afghanistan Gen. Davis Petraeus, left, shaking hands with Paula Broadwell, co-author of All In: The Education of General David Petraeus. - Sputnik International
Subscribe
The US Department of Justice is considering bringing criminal charges against former CIA director David Petraeus for providing classified information to his mistress.

MOSCOW, January 10 (Sputnik) – The US Department of Justice is considering bringing criminal charges against former CIA director David Petraeus, the Associated Press reports, citing an official familiar with the case.

David Cohen, US Treasury undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, speaks during a daily press briefing at the White House on October 23, 2014 in Washington, DC - Sputnik International
US Under Secretary for Terrorism to Become CIA Deputy Director: White House
The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that Petraeus, a retired four-star general, could be charged for the sharing of classified information with his biographer, Paula Broadwell, while he headed the Central Intelligence Agency.

Petraeus served as CIA director from September 2011 until November 2012. He resigned when his extramarital affair with Broadwell became public, a move he called unacceptable, saying he had shown "extremely poor judgment" in engaging in it, according to the Guardian.

At the time of Petraeus’ resignation, US President Barack Obama had praised him for being "one of the outstanding General officers of his generation, helping our military adapt to new challenges, and leading our men and women in uniform through a remarkable period of service in Iraq and Afghanistan." Obama added that Petraeus made the US safer and stronger.

The prosecutors at the FBI and the Justice Department are investigating whether Petraeus gave Broadwell access to his CIA email account and if he shared classified information with her, the New York Times reports, citing unnamed officials. Classified documents were found on Broadwell’s computer following an FBI investigation.

Obama Says Attorney General Holder to Stay in Office Until Successor Picked
Petraeus, who served as commander of the NATO-led ISAF mission in Afghanistan, has denied any wrongdoing, according to the newspaper. He also reportedly does not intend to enter a plea agreement with prosecutors.

The outgoing US Attorney General, Eric Holder, was reportedly expected to decide on whether to bring criminal charges against Petraeus by the end of 2014. However, his stance remains unknown.

Robert Barnett, a lawyer representing Petraeus, as well as Marc Raimondi, a spokesman for the Justice Department, declined to comment on the allegations.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала