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David Petraeus Sentenced to Probation for Misdemeanor

Ret. General David Petraeus was sentenced to two years probation yesterday for removing classified information and lying to the FBI about it.

Petraeus, 62, pleaded guilty Thursday to a misdemeanor count of unauthorized removal and retention of classified information. According to court documents, he shared the information with Broadwell, his biographer, then lied about doing so to the FBI.

The investigation is continuing. Will Paula Broadwell be next?

The FBI later found that Petraeus shared eight “black books” of secret codes, highly sensitive diplomatic information and wartime strategies with Broadwell in 2011. At the time, she was writing, “All In,” Petraeus’ biography.

None of the classified information appeared in the book, documents say. Broadwell was not charged in connection with the emails she sent to Petraeus’ friend. Legal experts say that because she was working as a journalist when she received the classified material from Petraeus, any government prosecution would be harder to prove.

Broadwell was never charged over her email to Petraeus's friend, aka the Real Housewife of Tampa. She'll probably dodge this bullet too.

Petraeus apologized for his "mistake."

“Today marks the end of a 21/2-year ordeal that resulted from mistakes that I made,” Petraeus read as television helicopters thumped overhead. “I now look forward to moving on with the next phase of my life and continuing to serve our great nation as a private citizen.”

The Judge more than doubled the fine called for in the plea agreement to $100k. The prosecutor sounded miffed that he got off so light.

Asked after the sentencing if Petraeus’ punishment was sufficient given the nature of his crime, Rose told the Observer: “This is plea agreement that (Holder) felt was appropriate in this case.”

What he did, via Politico:

Petraeus was accused of taking copious notes on top-secret matters in “black books” during his time as commander of U.S.-led forces in Afghanistan, which began in 2010. According to the indictment, the retired four-star general kept the books a secret from the Department of Defense and CIA and then shared the books’ classified contents with Broadwell.

When a Department of Defense official tasked with gathering any classified materials still in Petraeus’ possession asked about remaining materials, Petraeus lied about possessing the books and about sharing them with his biographer, according to the indictment. The books were ultimately seized from an unlocked desk drawer at Petraeus’ residence by FBI agents executing a search warrant in April 2013.

It sounds like this was all about his memoirs, which he thought were more important than his obligation to follow the law regarding classified information -- he probably thought he was morally entitled to copy the information. That character flaw alone should make whatever huge corporation or think tank that has hired him or is considering hiring him pause and think twice.

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  • Display: Sort:
    Treating leadership differently is bad for morale. (5.00 / 1) (#3)
    by Aspidistra on Fri Apr 24, 2015 at 01:47:22 PM EST
    "    Petraeus was accused of taking copious notes on top-secret matters in "black books" during his time as commander of U.S.-led forces in Afghanistan, which began in 2010. According to the indictment, the retired four-star general kept the books a secret from the Department of Defense and CIA and then shared the books' classified contents with Broadwell.

        When a Department of Defense official tasked with gathering any classified materials still in Petraeus' possession asked about remaining materials, Petraeus lied about possessing the books and about sharing them with his biographer, according to the indictment. The books were ultimately seized from an unlocked desk drawer at Petraeus' residence by FBI agents executing a search warrant in April 2013."

    Pretty sure an 0-4 would have ended up with a dishonorable discharge at the very least after doing that.  

    The military really needs to think about what this and the Fat Leonard (non) prosecutions look like to the 95% of military staff who are not flag officers...

    Why wasn't lying to the FBI a felony? (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by ding7777 on Sat Apr 25, 2015 at 02:07:49 PM EST


    The result of this case seems fine to me (1.50 / 2) (#1)
    by Green26 on Fri Apr 24, 2015 at 05:45:19 AM EST
    None of the classified information was used in the book and none seems to have been provided to any third part by the author. Thus, it was not a leak that got into the press or was given to our enemies or others. Petraeus lied to the investigators. That can't and shouldn't be tolerated.

    There are many important and classified things that get leaked into the press. While there have been a few more prosecutions in recent history, my impression is that most involved with those leaks don't get prosecuted. To me, some of those leaks are much worse than showing some classified info to your biographer and lover.

    Petraeus, as a military commander, accomplished many good things for the US. He was generally very good in Iraq, especially when he became the commander in early 2007. The Surge was very successful. I give him considerable credit for calming things down in Iraq. My son was fighting in Iraq from late summer '06 until fall '07. So, he was there before the Surge, and then during the Surge. Right before and in the early part of the Surge, he was in Fallujah and Ramadi in the Anbar provence. He told me in December '06 while home on a leave that they didn't have enough shooters, and needed more. He later said the Surge was just what they needed, and it worked very well.

    For this, I am happy to cut him some slack.  His reputation has suffered greatly from this episode and his mistake. I assume this hasn't been easy for him either. If important classified information had been used or leaked further, I would feel different. I see no reason for him to receive more punishment.  I doubt he will have any problem finding good employment and money opportunities.

    Comparisons to Jeffrey Sterling case (1.00 / 2) (#2)
    by Green26 on Fri Apr 24, 2015 at 09:48:29 AM EST
    Sterling is the former CIA officer convicted of 9 felonies in January. Some people are arguing that he deserves a modest sentence, based on what Petraeus got. I say the cases are apples to oranges.

    The Petraeus information didn't get passed along publicly or beyond the biographer. She had his books for less than a week.
    This is what Holder said about Sterling's situation.

    "The defendant's unauthorized disclosures of classified information compromised operations undertaken in defense of America's national security. The disclosures placed lives at risk. And they constituted an egregious breach of the public trust by someone who had sworn to uphold it. As this verdict proves, it is possible to fully prosecute unauthorized disclosures that inflict harm upon our national security without interfering with journalists' ability to do their jobs." NY Times article.