David Petraeus, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, announced his resignation on Friday citing an extramarital affair.
CIA Director David Petraeus (photo: www.cia.gov)“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,” Petraeus wrote in a letter to CIA personnel. “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.”
Petraeus discussed the matter with President Obama on Thursday and then submitted his resignation, which the president accepted on Friday.
“Today, CIA Director David Petraeus submitted his letter of resignation to the President. Dave’s decision to step down represents the loss of one of our nation’s most respected public servants,” Director National Intelligence James Clapper said in a statement. “From his long, illustrious Army career to his leadership at the helm of CIA, Dave has redefined what it means to serve and sacrifice for one’s country.” Petraeus, a retired four star general who previously served as top commander in Iraq and Afghanistan, was arguably the most vaunted military officer of a generation.
Petraeus took over as head of the CIA in September of 2011 following his tour as head of allied forces in Afghanistan.
