CIA head Petraeus resigns over affair

CIA Director David Petraeus has resigned from his post, citing an extramarital affair.

CIA Director David Petraeus has resigned after admitting an extramarital affair. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Source: AP

Facebook photo of Paula Broadwell with her husband Scott. Source: Supplied

Paula Broadwell who is the biographer for resigning CIA Director David Petraeus is under FBI investigation for improperly trying to access his email and possibly gaining access to classified information, law enforcement officials told NBC News on Friday. Paula Broadwell is the author of Petraeus' biography, "All In." She had extensive access to Petraeus in Afghanistan and has given numerous television interviews speaking about him. Source: Supplied

THE head of the CIA has resigned over an extramarital affair, bringing an abrupt end to a brilliant career that saw him serve as military commander in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

CIA director David Petraeus resigned in a letter to US President Barack Obama dated Friday (local US time) and was accepted by the White House, NBC reported. 

In the letter, Petraeus noted that he had been married for 37 years and had exercised "extremely poor judgment' in conducting an extramarital affair.

Petraues took over as head of the CIA in September of 2011 following his tour as head of allied forces in Afghanistan.

The revelation shocked Washington just three days after the re-election of US President Barack Obama and shortly before Petraeus had been due to testify on the CIA's alleged failure to properly protect a US consulate in Libya.

"After being married for over 37 years, I showed extremely poor judgment by engaging in an extramarital affair,'' Petraeus said on Friday in a message to CIA staff, released to the media.

"Such behavior is unacceptable, both as a husband and as the leader of an organisation such as ours.''

It was unclear why Petraeus felt he had to step down over the affair, and whether his liaison presented a purely personal problem or raised security issues that could affect his work at the spy agency.

NBC television and other US media reported that the FBI was investigating Paula Broadwell, who is co-author of a detailed biography of Petraeus, "All In,'' for improper access to classified information.

The resignation comes amid criticism in some quarters of Petraeus over his response to a deadly attack in September on a US consulate in Benghazi, which killed the US ambassador to Libya and three other Americans.

General David Petraeus, the new head of US and NATO forces in Afghanistan, assumes command during a ceremony in Kabul yesterday. Source: AFP

Petraeus was due to face a tough grilling in a series of closed-door classified meetings in Congress next week, with some MPs questioning the former general's handling of the incident.

Michael Morell, Petraeus' deputy at the country's lead spy agency, will serve as acting director and Obama expressed his "utmost confidence'' in Morell's leadership.

The most celebrated military officer of his generation, Petraeus, 60, took over at the CIA just over a year ago after retiring as a four-star general.

Obama accepted the CIA chief's resignation after meeting with him on Thursday, hailing his ``extraordinary service''.

"By any measure, he was 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, where he helped our nation put those wars on a path to a responsible end,'' he said.

Senator John McCain, a loyal supporter who championed the general's surge strategy in Iraq, heaped praised on Petraeus for his tenure as commander there.

"General David Petraeus will stand in the ranks of America's greatest military heroes,'' he said.

"His inspirational leadership and his genius were directly responsible - after years of failure - for the success of the surge in Iraq.''

Intensely competitive, he graduated from the US Military Academy at West Point in 1974, where he met his wife, Holly, the daughter of West Point's superintendent.

Petraeus' resignation letter:

HEADQUARTERS Central Intelligence Agency

9 November 2012

Yesterday afternoon, I went to the White House and asked the President to be allowed, for personal reasons, to resign from my position as D/CIA. After being married for over 37 years, I showed extremely poor judgment by engaging in an extramarital affair. Such behavior is unacceptable, both as a husband and as the leader of an organization such as ours. This afternoon, the President graciously accepted my resignation.

As I depart Langley, I want you to know that it has been the greatest of privileges to have served with you, the officers of our Nation's Silent Service, a work force that is truly exceptional in every regard. Indeed, you did extraordinary work on a host of critical missions during my time as director, and I am deeply grateful to you for that.

Teddy Roosevelt once observed that life's greatest gift is the opportunity to work hard at work worth doing. I will always treasure my opportunity to have done that with you and I will always regret the circumstances that brought that work with you to an end.

Thank you for your extraordinary service to our country, and best wishes for continued success in the important endeavors that lie ahead for our country and our Agency.

With admiration and appreciation,
David H. Petraeus

Holly Knowlton Petraeus holding the family bible as her husband David Petraeus is sworn in by Vice President Joe Biden as CIA Director, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington. Petraeus has resigned as director of the CIA after admitting he had an extramarital affair. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) Source: AP

 

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