Retired Gen. David Petraeus exposed classified information even more widely than originally known, according to court documents made public this week that suggested he often spoke improperly with members of the media.
The documents, which include an affidavit signed by FBI Special Agent Diane Wehner as part of a 2013 search warrant request of Petraeus’ home, suggested Petraeus gave reporters restricted information on background. “There is a recorded conversation between Petraeus and, inter alia, Washington Post reporters, which, based on the information and belief of your affiant, occurred in or about March 2011,” Wehner wrote in the affidavit.
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“In the conversation, Petraeus stated, ‘I would really love to be on background as a senior military officer,’ ” Wehner added. “Later in the recording, Petraeus discusses sensitive military campaigns and operations, some of which, on the basis of a preliminary review … is believed to contain classified information, including information at the Top Secret level.”
Petraeus was slapped with a $100,000 fine and two years of probation in 2015 for leaking classified information to his mistress and official biographer, Paula Broadwell. The FBI obtained the audio files through a 2012 search of Broadwell’s home.
Wehner’s filing also described another conversation between Petraeus and a reporter. “During the conversation, Petraeus requested that information he provided be attributed to a ‘defense official familiar with Petraeus’s activities,’ ” Wehner said. “Petraeus was concerned about the sensitivity of the information he was providing, and wanted to ensure the information was not attributed to him because it would come out after he was confirmed as director of the CIA.”
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The documents also reveal that Broadwell “likely” used Petraeus to access restricted information, though she signed an “off-the-record” agreement stating that she wouldn’t write about classified information she received. “If you have classified material, Gen. Petraeus has been gracious enough to allow me to have you send the storyboards and material to his SIPR account,” Broadwell wrote in one email to an Army leader, referencing an account Petraeus held on a secret government network. She added, “I’ll pick them up as soon as you send the word! I’ve copied him on this email.”
Leaking top secret material seems less damaging than claimed. He was fined, not jailed — and his motive was sex. https://t.co/5d9OknWkH1
— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) June 8, 2016
Before Petraeus accepted the plea agreement, he was facing charges under the Federal Records Act and Espionage Act, the same statutes that some believe Hillary Clinton violated through her use of a private email server, and that former NSA contractor Edward Snowden violated when he leaked information about the agency’s surveillance regime.
Snowden, who has avoided extradition by staying in Russia, took to Twitter on Wednesday to voice his displeasure with the way the cases have been treated differently. “Leaking top secret material seems less damaging than claimed. He was fined, not jailed — and his motive was sex,” Snowden said.
