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Subscribe to RSSNBC's Brian Williams and NBC's Andrea Mitchell report on the resignation of well-regarded former General David Petraeus from the CIA after he admitted an affair.
WASHINGTON -- CIA Director David Petraeus resigned Friday, citing an extramarital affair and "extremely poor judgment."
As first reported by NBC News, Petraeus disclosed the affair in a letter released to the CIA work force on Friday afternoon, writing: "Such behavior is unacceptable, both as a husband and as the leader of an organization such as ours."
Petraeus told President Barack Obama of his affair and offered his resignation during a meeting Thursday, a senior official told NBC News.
In a statement, Obama said he accepted Petraeus’s resignation on Friday.
"By any measure, through his lifetime of service, David Petraeus has made our country safer and stronger," Obama said of the four-star general, who led American forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Petraeus' biographer, Paula Broadwell, 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. She is the author of Petraeus' biography, "All In." Broadwell had extensive access to Petraeus in Afghanistan and has given numerous television interviews speaking about him.
Law enforcement and multiple U.S. officials told NBC News that emails between Petraeus and Broadwell were indicative of an extra-marital affair.
Broadwell could not be reached by NBC News for comment.
David Petraeus a battlefield 'hero' and savvy Washington insider
Petraeus himself is not under investigation.
A U.S. military official and long-time aide to Petraeus told NBC News the director resigned "because he screwed up."
"In his mind, in his views, with his code of ethics and morals, he did a very dishonorable thing," the official said. "This had nothing to do with Benghazi, nothing to do with his relationship with the White House."
Petraeus was appointed CIA director in April 2011, replacing Leon Panetta, who moved to the Pentagon to become defense secretary.
Petraeus served as commander of the war in Afghanistan in 2010-2011. Before that, he served as commander of the U.S. Central Command and as the commanding general of U.S. forces in Iraq. Because of those roles, he was seen as bringing a “customer’s eye” to the intelligence job.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, told NBC News that Petraeus’s personal mistake should not have led to his departure.
"I would have stood up for him," Feinstein said in response to his indiscretion. "I wanted him to continue. He was good, he loved the work, and he had a command of intelligence issues second to none."
Mandel Ngan / AFP - Getty Images file
General David Petraeus, center, takes the oath of office as the next director of the CIA from Vice President Joe Biden, right, as Petraeus's wife, Holly, watches on Sept. 6, 2011 during a ceremony at the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, D.C.
Feinstein said she respects Obama’s decision to accept the Petraeus resignation, but wishes he hadn't.
She also said Petraeus will not need to testify at hearings she is chairing next week into the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya. Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans were killed in the attack.
Rep. Peter King, R-NY, chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, said he regrets Petraeus's resignation. "General Petraeus is one of America's most outstanding and distinguished military leaders and a true American patriot," King said in a statement.
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said it was Petraus's "genius" that was responsible "for the success of the surge in Iraq."
"General David Petraeus will stand in the ranks of America's greatest military heroes," McCain said in a statement.
Multiple sources tell NBC News that Mike Morrell, the deputy CIA director and a longtime CIA officer, would likely be offered the job as acting director, with the understanding that he may be elevated to the job permanently.
That's how George Tenet got the job, first as deputy director in July 1995, then acting director following the resignation of John Deutch in December 1996 and finally as director in July 1997, staying on in the Bush administration.
Morrell is a longtime CIA analyst and was an eyewitness to two of the most momentous events in recent U.S. history. He was traveling with President George W. Bush on Sept. 11, 2001, as the president's briefer, and was in the Situation Room on May 1, 2011, as deputy CIA Director, when Navy SEALs killed Osama bin Laden.
Morell began his agency career as an analyst tracking international energy issues and subsequently worked for 14 years as an analyst and manager on East Asia. In 1999, he was appointed director of the Office of Asian Pacific and Latin American Analysis. He also has served as a presidential briefer, as chief of the staff that produces the president's daily briefing, and as an executive assistant to CIA Director George J. Tenet.
From 2003 until 2006, he served overseas. Upon his return, he was briefly deputy director for intelligence at the National Counterterrorism Center before being asked to become associate deputy director at the CIA.
NBC's Andrea Mitchell reports on the resignation of CIA Director David Petraeus after citing an extra-marital affair and apologizing for poor judgment.
Here is the full text of Petraeus' 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
Andrea Mitchell is NBC News’ chief foreign affairs correspondent. Robert Windrem is NBC News’ senior investigative producer. NBC News Chief White House Correspondent Chuck Todd contributed to this report.
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Petreaus obviously is NOT the man of "great character" that everyone says he is. So what else is he helping Obama cover up besides Benghazi?
It's a shame that people don't have much self control these days and are not happy with their lot in life. Another good man bites the dust for adultery. Sheesh!! When are people gonna learn self control!! It would save a lot of marriages.
This is not good; can you say President Biden. On sept 14th Petraeus knowingly lied to congress about benghazi. He was coerced into doing this using some information (like an affair). Petraeus had significant guilt and resigned on thursday. President didn't protest resignation because Petraeus wouldn't let him. Obamas poor performance in 1st debate was because he had just found out that Patraeus and Hillary would be resigning (not happy about Benghazi). True testimony will soon be released including coverup of benghazi and blackmail. Obama will have to resign. Did you notice he didn't seem into the election starting just before the 1st debate. This is because he knew he was not running for his second term; but was running for Bidens first term. Watch the "acceptance" video; how happy Joe is and how dispondent the president seems.
His testimony on Benghazi's case was scheduled for this coming week, who is behind this? People you are extremely naive!
The more outrageous, extreme, convoluted, insiduous and most titillating is the least naive....so lets just sellect 'facts' that go with that assumption and not bother to think or learn anymore.
Have you seen what his wife looks like? Is it any wonder that he had an affair. I'm just surprised that this isn't the first chickie that he banged on the side -- or maybe she isn't?
What looks got to with it? As you Gays say Love is love
It isn't that I excuse being unfaithful to one's spouse, but others here have comments with which I agree. Making a fall guy out of a brilliant man whose work for our country has been very much what we need, is not fair. Think about it. How many CEOs in this country would or even should be fired for the same thing.
It's the selectiveness that I object to. There is no civil law in this country against infidelity. OK Some may quote the Bible (Thou shalt not commit adultery) which is a right-on aspiration... but the Ten Commandments are a list of ideals we should strive for. The punishment for failing should NOT be utilized against a hard-working and talented employee of this nation which is founded upon "no state religion." Separation of Church and State. And that Commandment is religious.
In these United States, not anywhere, is infidelity against any of our civil laws. It's hurtful to the spouse in most cases, and I wish we all could and should be kinder to them. We are not perfect, but asking a General to "resign" when he is doing a class-A job (and I am very sure that is precisely what happened at the White House level) smacks to me of a serious infraction I'd call religiosity. Unless ALL CEOs in the United States are required to resign for a religious reason, not a civil reason, then this is not justice.
It is evident to me, at least, that the General was pushed into this resignation, and very likely by jealous employees in the CIA. And Mr. Obama made absolutely the wrong decision in accepting the General's offer to resign.
We should have canned Eisenhower during WW2--would have prolonged the war and cost a few 100k American lives but that's a small price to pay compared to a general having a mistress! Lets demonize JFK, Thomas Jefferson, many other crucial characters in American history for having affairs. Gotta love this neuevo-puritanical American impulse.
He didn't resign because of the affair. It's Benghazi. The stock market went down because of Benghazi. Iran shot at our drone because of Benghazi. Alabama lost their first game of the year today because of Benghazi. The northeast got wiped out by hurricane Sandy because of Benghazi. The whole world is falling apart because of Benghazi.
You're wrong on one point: the stock marker did not go down because of Benghazi- it went down because Obama got re-elected. LOL.
You can't handle the truth! Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who's gonna do it? You? You
I am just as worried about this, which is breaking right now:
What exactly did the CIA tell the Australians to do? Did they know that the Australians were suppressing the evidential proof of her innocence? Did they know about the absolutely security disaster across Australian airports (residual still there)?
These are surely fundamental questions,of both integrity and ethics, given that she is now seriously ill in jail.
With the current developments with Petraeus, I hope they are not pushed under the carpet. This HAS to be investigated and reported.
i dont understand why so many of you are saying he should have fought it because it was "only" an affair. Maybe, just maybe, unlike many of you, he prefers his family over his career. as far as him or anyone else covering for benghazi...why would he lie and say its an affair himself on the way out while being railroaded by the admin. If you were tossed under a bus for a lie would you keep quiet? He lost career and family...if it was to the govt he woulda opened his mouth the minute the bus hit him just like every last one of you.
Petraeus should be canned because his teeth aren't quite straight.
Petraeus is just another piece of excrement of the (Military Industrial Complex) MIC. He isn't worthy of trimming Patton's toenails.
You know what really upsets me? GW and Cheney invaded a country behind a PACK OF LIES, why aren't the Tea Bagger's and Rethugs forming committees to strip them of their Pensions & Benefits, then sending their butts to jail for the rest of their lives!
What's worse, we still have Vitter, Ensign and the Gay Airport Bandit, yet none of them resigned. Why is it that Democrats, or if you work for a Democrat Administration, you MUST fall on the Knife? I am so fed up with these double standards, that I wish I could slap each one of those punks calling for investigations whenever they MAKE UP allegations as they did on Eric Holder, and now they are trying to make more out of this affair.
After serving 37 yrs in the military, got the position as CIA Director, the man was literally feeling his OATS, and celebrated .... to be he got caught! If I were him, I would not have resigned, I would have began calling names, like Bush, Cheney, Vitter, Ensign and many others, who NEVER RESIGN, yet leave with their heads held high! This is nothing but BS they are trying to tie to Obama; anything to keep from doing, what they were hired to do .... MAKE AMERICA BETTER!
Interesting the double-standard in this Liberal administration. They hang Petraeus, but boy did the Clinton administration try to bury all of his dalliances... Shameful behavior all around.
You have got to be kidding me, look at this guy! He looks like Barney Fife. Do not women have any standards any more about who they sleep with, come on!
Some say who cares, but the transgression of basic morals of trusted officials is something to be concerned about. Having been in the military, I've seen too many of these high ranking, self-indulgent, narcissistic, corrupted idiots that just can't contain themselves and their use of "power". Civilians aren't much different. Humans have a lot more evolving to do when they can't even control their most primitive desires and they have no doubt what they're doing is absolutely wrong. Pathetic behavior. General, you're fired! I say forfeit benefits too. He'll still make $2-$300k a year retired!