Prosecutors Said to Recommend Charges Against Former Gen. David Petraeus

[Ykcutnek]

Source: New York Times

WASHINGTON — The F.B.I. and Justice Department prosecutors have recommended bringing felony charges against retired Gen. David H. Petraeus for providing classified information to his former mistress while he was director of the C.I.A., officials said, leaving Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. to decide whether to seek an indictment that could send the pre-eminent military officer of his generation to prison.

The Justice Department investigation stems from an affair Mr. Petraeus had with Paula Broadwell, an Army Reserve officer who was writing his biography, and focuses on whether he gave her access to his C.I.A. email account and other highly classified information. F.B.I. agents discovered classified documents on her computer after Mr. Petraeus resigned from the C.I.A. in 2012 when the affair became public.

Mr. Petraeus, a retired four star-general who served as commander of American forces in both Iraq and Afghanistan, has said he never provided classified information to Ms. Broadwell, and has indicated to the Justice Department that he has no interest in a plea deal that would spare him an embarrassing trial. A lawyer for Mr. Petraeus, Robert B. Barnett, said Friday he had no comment.

Mr. Holder was expected to decide by the end of last year whether to bring charges against Mr. Petraeus, but he has not indicated how he plans to proceed. The delay has frustrated some Justice Department and F.B.I officials and investigators who have questioned whether Mr. Petraeus has received special treatment at a time Mr. Holder has led an unprecedented crackdown on government officials who reveal secrets to journalists.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/10/us/politics/prosecutors-said-to-recommend-charges-against-former-gen-david-petraeus.html

[PSPS]

2. "the pre-eminent military officer of his generation"

The F.B.I. and Justice Department prosecutors have recommended bringing felony charges against retired Gen. David H. Petraeus for providing classified information to his former mistress while he was director of the C.I.A., officials said, leaving Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. to decide whether to seek an indictment that could send the pre-eminent military officer of his generation to prison.

What a dismal "generation" his must be for him to merit such a label.

[silvershadow]

3. This ought to set their hair on fire.

But the charges being such would prevent it. So they will have to do a slow burn.

[TwilightGardener]

4. Oh fer God's sake, they're not going to charge him with a felony.

It doesn't matter whether he deserves it or not. I just don't see it happening, politically. Remember General Allen, who couldn't be head of NATO and quietly retired because he spent countless hours flirting with socialites in Tampa, sending them thousands of emails? Obama brought him out of retirement and keeps promoting him within the administration. Failing upward, as it were.

[elias49]

8. Yup. He'll walk away from this.

Not unlike other "VIPs"...Bush, Cheney, etc.

[another_liberal]

5. Betrayus will just show up for trial in his splendidly bemedaled dress uniform . . .

And use the publicity from his eventual acquittal as a springboard for a Vice-Presidential run in 2016.

[Kelvin Mace]

6. Holder will let him walk

as he always does when it comes to the elite.

[Joey Liberal]

7. An enlisted person would end up in jail

I think he gets indicted and faces trial. Sharing classified info with his mistress? Not good. She's a hottie, but she's wasn't worth possible jail time. The GOP will call him a patriot, lol. And he probably was a patriot, up until the time he shared classified info with the hottie. If an enlisted person or a regular CIA worker-bee did this, they would be in jail already.

[olddad56]

9. maybe they should waterboard him and get to the truth of the matter.

[bahrbearian]

10. LOL

[grahamhgreen]

11. Kick

[McKim]

12. This is Great News

How can he get away with running his own fiefdom in Iraq and inviting all sorts of people from the Neoliberals to come over and use his office. He ran tours for conservative think tanks too. Running his own operation without permission from above and all on my nickle
I hope he goes to jail instead of being honored with lucrative speaking engagements.

[DeSwiss]

13. Holder?

- But, but, but.... it's a ''symptom of the institution's culture'' to tell secrets to your mistresses, rather than the willful act of any one individual.

[Demeter]

14. surely the statute of limitiations must have run out on this by now

after all, for white-collar crimes, it's maybe 10 years and then it's too late, Charlie...

[JEB]

15. Move On did have it right. eom

[candelista]

16. Well, it's not for war crimes, but I guess it's better than nothing.

While ousted CIA Director David Petraeus eats dirt for his extra-marital affair, some people would like him to answer for much more serious crimes.

There is evidence that Petraeus, when he commanded US forces in Afghanistan, oversaw the intentional bombing of funerals and civilian rescuers with drones, which constitutes a war crime according to The International Criminal Court.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/david-petraeus-may-have-committed-much-worse-crimes-in-afghanistan-2012-11#ixzz3ORcmqNwr