David Petraeus scandal ends today in Charlotte
A scandal that started unravelling three years ago will finally come to an end today in Charlotte. Former CIA Director David Petraeus is expected to plead guilty to charges related to him sharing government secrets with Charlotte’s Paula Broadwell, his biographer and former lover.
According to an article by the Observer’s Michael Gordon, Petraeus will plead guilty to one count of unauthorized removal and retention of classified material, a misdemeanor. The government will recommend the punishment be limited to two years probation and a $40,000 fine, less than the maximum sentence of one year in prison and a $100,000 fine.
So how did we get here? Here’s a look back at the events that led to today.
Former FBI Director David Petraeus’ fall began and ends in Charlotte http://t.co/XR7ibxhe4P pic.twitter.com/NkS5JK2Xni
— Charlotte Observer (@theobserver) April 22, 2015
-Spring 2006: Broadwell meets Petraeus as a Harvard University graduate student.
-2010: Broadwell goes to Afghanistan six times to research her biography of Petraeus.
-Sept. 6, 2011: Petraeus becomes CIA director.
-January 2012: Broadwell’s book “All In: The Education of General David Petraeus” is released.
-June 2012: FBI agents visited Broadwell’s Dilworth home. They searched her email accounts and uncovered the affair.
-Early fall 2012: In an interview with the FBI, Broadwell admits to the affair and gives agents her computer. The computer contains classified information far beyond her security clearance as a major in the Army Reserves.
-October 2012: Petraeus also admits to the affair. Both claim Broadwell did not get the classified information from Petraeus.
-Nov. 9, 2012: Petreaus resigns as CIA director.
Charlotte author Paula Broadwell linked to David Petraeus as he resigns http://t.co/WcjzIpyc #breaking #clt — Charlotte Observer (@theobserver) November 10, 2012
–Nov. 12, 2012: FBI searches Broadwell’s home.
Agents just came out of Paula Broadwell’s house with half a dozen boxes, 2 computers.
— Charlotte Observer (@theobserver) November 13, 2012
-April 2013: The FBI raids Petraeus’ home, seizing the eight “black books” that court documents say Petraeus shared with Broadwell in 2011.
The books, compiled in Afghanistan, contained information like secret codes, identities of covert officers and notes from National Security Council meetings. None of the information appeared in Broadwell’s book, according to prosecutors.
-May 2013: Broadwell apologizes for the affair during a television interview. She has declined to discuss it since.
Broadwell was not charged in connection with the emails she sent to Kelley. She could still be accused of possessing classified information, but legal experts say that is unlikely.
-Feb. 22, 2015: Petraeus signs a plea deal, apparently wanting to avoid an embarrassing trial.
-2 p.m. April 23, 2015: Petraeus will be sentenced at the Charles R. Jonas Federal Building in Charlotte. It is open to the public and expected to draw national media coverage.
Photos: AP, T. Ortega Gaines/Charlotte Observer
This story was originally published April 22, 2015 at 5:09 PM with the headline "David Petraeus scandal ends today in Charlotte."