Paula Broadwell, the woman that had an affair with Petraeus

David Petraeus had an affair with his biographer, the 40-year-old reserve Army officer Paula Broadwell, who is subject of an FBI investigation for allegedly trying to access the mail of CIA Director, gaining access to secret information.

According to Fox News, David Petraeus had an extramarital affair with writer Paula Broadwell, co-author of the biography titled “All In: The Education of General David Petraeus”.

Sources quoted by NBC revealed that the affair came to the attention of the U.S. authorities during an FBI investigation of Paula Broadwell, suspected of trying to access the emails of the CIA Director David Petraeus and thus obtaining classified information.

According to officials from the FBI, the investigation of Paula Broadwell will not result in the formulation of charges. David Petraeus was not considered as a suspect during the investigation.

David Petraeus has resigned as director of the CIA – a position he held from 2011 – because of an extramarital affair. In a letter sent to the CIA, Petraeus, 60 years old, says that he offered his resignation to Barack Obama on Thursday and the president accepted it the next day.

“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.” said Petraeus. “This afternoon, the President graciously accepted my resignation,” reads a letter sent by Petraeus to his CIA coleagues.

Barack Obama sent in an official statement that he accepted Petraeus’ resignation, thanking him for his work with the CIA during his time as the leader of the American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Petraeus’ resignation, sudden and unexpected, seems to end the public career of a man who played a key role in the Iraq war. Decision would lead to a period of instability in the Central Intelligence Agency, faced with budget cuts and criticism after the death of the U.S. Ambassador, Chris Stevens, killed in a terrrorist attack at the Benghazi (Libya) consulate.

According to sources in the intelligence services, Michael Morell, the deputy CIA director, will assume the position of interim director general. Morell held the same position after the departure of former acting CIA director Leon Panetta.