I mishandled classified papers, admits Petraeus

DAVID PETRAEUS, the former CIA director and top US Army general whose affair with his biographer brought down what many considered a bright political future, has agreed to plead guilty to mishandling classified materials.

The plea agreement was filed in US District Court in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Petraeus was charged with one count of unauthorised removal and retention of classif ied material, which carries a possible penalty of up to a year in prison, a $100,000 fine and five years of probation.

According to court documents, Petraeus gave his biographer, Paula Broadwell, binders of classified material from Afghanistan while she was writing her book.

Petraeus admitted having an affair with Ms Broadwell when he resigned from his position in November 2012.

Both have apologised and said their romantic relationship began only after he retired from the military and started at the CIA.

The binders were known as “black books” and were seized by the FBI in a search of Petraeus’home, according to court documents.

He also lied providing them Broadwell.

Petraeus retained the black books in his home even after he left the defence department.

In August 2011, he delivered them to a private residence in Washington where Ms Broadwell was staying.

Petraeus left the books with her so she could use them as source material for the biography on Petraeus.

On September 1, Petraeus brought the books back to his home in Arlington, Virginia.

When Petraeus resigned from the CIA, he signed a form indicating he had no classified material in his possession but he still had the black books in his home.

On April 5 2013, the FBI searched his home and seized the black books. about to Ms