Former CIA Director David Petraeus Pleads Guilty To Mishandling Classified Documents

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Former CIA Director and retired Four-Star General, David H. Petraeus, plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge of mishandling classified materials on Tuesday morning. The plea agreement was filed March 3, in a U.S. District Court in Charlotte, North Carolina. Petraeus struck a plea deal with prosecutors, which will likely prevent him from serving any time in prison. As a result of the plea agreement, federal prosecutors are asking that Petraeus pay a 40,000 dollar fine and be placed on probation for two years.

Petraeus shared classified information with his mistress, Paula Broadwell, while she was writing a biography of the General titled All In: The Education of General David Petraeus. The documents included journals that contained notes about official meetings, war strategy, intelligence capabilities, and the names of covert officers.

The revelation that Petraeus had an extramarital affair with Broadwell, and that he allegedly shared sensitive information with her, forced his resignation in November 2012. Petraeus stepped down as CIA Director, just three days after Barack Obama was re-elected in 2012.

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The affair between Petraeus and Broadwell was uncovered, after a friend of Petraeus, Jill Kelley, began receiving anonymous e-mail threats. The FBI traced those threats back to Broadwell. Although she was not ultimately charged for the cyberstalking, the investigation led to the discovery that Petraeus had shared classified ”black book” journals with Broadwell.

During investigations, Petraeus lied to FBI investigators, denying that he still possessed classified documents and refusing to admit that he shared sensitive information with Broadwell. However, on April 5, 2013, FBI agents located the black books during a search of Petraeus’ home.

Prior to his rapid fall from grace, Petraeus was lionized by the press, and by a bipartisan coalition of war-friendly politicians. Although neither the Iraq nor Afghanistan Wars could be characterized as military successes for the United States, Petraeus was showered with accolades.

On Tuesday, Petraeus’ plea agreement serves as a reminder that while those who ascend to high-ranking positions in the U.S. military are often idolized as heroes, they are still human beings and far from infallible. Petraeus’ showed a lack of character by cheating on his wife. Furthermore, his decision to share classified information with his mistress, reveals that he is anything but a hero.

Keith Brekhus

Keith Brekhus is a progressive American who currently resides in Red Lodge, Montana. He is co-host for the Liberal Fix radio show. He holds a Master’s Degree in Sociology from the University of Missouri. In 2002, he ran for Congress as a Green Party candidate in the state of Missouri. In 2014, he worked as a field organizer for Democrat Ann Kirkpatrick’s successful re-election bid in Arizona’s 1st Congressional District. He can be followed on Twitter @keithbrekhus or on Facebook.