David Petraeus, who as a general and former head of the CIA conquered foes as he strode across the world stage, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor for giving classified materials to his former lover, who was also his biographer.
Petraeus entered his guilty plea Thursday in a federal court in Charlotte, N.C. There were no cameras in the courtroom, but local reporters kept up a steady stream of tweets as Petraeus acknowledged illegally taking secret documents and making them available to Paula Broadwell, his biographer.
Asked whether he was guilty of the one count of mishandling classified information, a misdemeanor, Petraeus responded, “I am.”
Petraeus was sentenced to two years probation and a fine of $100,000. Prosecutors had recommended two years probation and a $40,000 fine.
Petraeus is a former four-star general who was the top commander in Afghanistan and Iraq. President George W. Bush picked Petraeus to command the multinational forces in Iraq in 2007, the period known as the “surge.”
Under the “surge” doctrine, the United States sent an additional 20,000 troops into Iraq and extended the tour of most of the soldiers and Marines already in the country. The added forces were coupled with money and resources to local militias to help fight Sunni Muslim militants.
The value of the strategy has been a hotly debated partisan issue in the United States. Many argue that the troop buildup was the reason that the war in Iraq began to turn in the United States’ favor.
In 2011, Broadwell, a former soldier, began work on the biography, written with ghostwriter and journalist Vernon Loeb and titled “All In: The Education of David Petraeus.” The book was published in 2012, before her affair with Petraeus became public.
Prosecutors have said Petraeus gave Broadwell eight binders of classified material he had improperly kept from his time as the top military commander in Afghanistan. Days later, he took the binders back to his house.
As part of the agreement, Petraeus acknowledged giving the binders to Broadwell.
Among the secret information were the names of covert operatives, the war strategy and notes about Petraeus’ discussions with President Barack Obama.
Those binders were seized by the FBI in April 2013 during a search of Petraeus’ Arlington, Va., home.
Prosecutors said Petraeus had signed a form falsely attesting that he had no classified material and that he had lied to FBI when he denied giving Broadwell information.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
