WASHINGTON (AP) — The
Pentagon says it will not demote retired Army Gen. David Petraeus, who
pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of mishandling classified
information while CIA director, an incident stemming from an affair with
his biographer.
“The Army completed
its review of his case and recommended no additional action,” Stephen C.
Hedger, assistant defense secretary for legislative affairs, wrote the
Senate Armed Services Committee on Friday. Given that review, Hedger
said Defense Secretary Ash Carter “considers this matter closed.”
The Associated Press obtained a copy of the letter Saturday. The Pentagon had no further comment.
Media
reports had surfaced that indicated the Pentagon was considering
downgrading Petraeus to a three-star general. Such a move, if taken,
would have reduced his retirement salary.
In response, committee
leaders urged Carter not to demote Petraeus, saying the retired officer
had “admitted his guilt and apologized for his actions.”
At a
committee hearing on Jan. 21, President Barack Obama’s nominee to be the
Army’s top civilian official said he believed no further action should
be taken against Petraeus.
Petraeus resigned from the CIA in
November 2012 after an extramarital affair with biographer Paula
Broadwell. He pleaded guilty last year to a misdemeanor count of
unlawful removal and retention of classified materials. He was spared
prison as part of his plea and was given two years’ probation by a judge
who faulted him for a “serious lapse in judgment.”
Petraeus
admitted that he loaned Broadwell eight binders containing highly
classified information regarding war strategy, intelligence capabilities
and identities of covert officers. Petraeus kept the binders in an
unlocked desk drawer at his home, instead of a secure facility that’s
required for handling classified material.
When initially
questioned by the FBI, he denied having given Broadwell classified
information, but in his plea deal he avoided being charged with making a
false statement.
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