Prosecutors recommend charges against ex-CIA chief Petraeus

Justice Department prosecutors and the FBI are recommending felony charges against former CIA Director Gen. David Petraeus for allegedly sharing classified information with a mistress when he headed the intelligence agency, the New York Times reports.

Attorney General Eric Holder will now ultimately decide whether to indict Petraeus following the investigation.

{mosads}An FBI investigation revealed an extramarital affair between Petraeus and his mistress and biographer, Paula Broadwell. Petraeus resigned as CIA director in November 2012 after the affair became public.

Law enforcement officials found classified information on a computer used by Broadwell during an investigation.

Petraeus has suggested to DOJ officials that he is not interested in a plea deal, according to the Times. He has previously denied giving Broadwell any classified information.

Before serving as the agency’s director, Petraeus led U.S. Central Command and then the coalition forces in Afghanistan.

It is unclear when Holder will make a decision on seeking an indictment.

The long investigation into Petraeus, lasting more than two years, drew criticism from Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), who slammed the DOJ in a December letter for dragging out the probe. 

“Without commenting on the underlying merits or anticipating the outcome of the investigation, I can conclude this is a circumstance in which the principle of ‘justice delayed is justice denied’ is certainly at play, and that this matter needs to be brought to resolution,” McCain said in his letter.

Petraeus retreated to private life immediately after the scandal. He’s since taught a class at City University of New York and accepted a professorship at the University of Southern California. He’s also a partner with the private-equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts.

This story was updated at 6:40 p.m.