The FBI and Department of Justice prosecutors are reportedly recommending that felony charges be brought against former CIA chief and Army Gen. David Petraeus for sharing confidential information with his then-mistress, Paula Broadwell.
The question is, after more than two years, why? Especially when one considers that, when the scandal first broke, President Obama indicated that there was “no evidence” that the information that was leaked was of a type that would harm national security, according to NBC News.
“I have no evidence at this point from what I’ve seen that classified information was disclosed that in any way would have had a negative impact on our national security,” he said at a November, 2012 press briefing.
But what’s changed since then?
The Hill reported:
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.
But the man who orchestrated and led the troop surge in Iraq, and later in Afghanistan, isn’t the type to take this lying down. The Hill continued:
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.
The Justice Department’s two-year-plus investigation has stirred accusations of foot-dragging and raised the ire of U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) who complained to the DOJ in a letter.
“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 wrote.
One reason why charges may be brought after leaving Petraeus twisting slowly in the wind for an extended period is the president’s spiteful reputation, which was documented by The Washington Post in November.
This was suggested as the motive by conservative film director Dinesh D’Souza, who knows firsthand Obama’s spiteful legacy. He tweeted:
Petraeus’ real crime was to lead a troop surge in Iraq that worked, frustrating Obama’s plans for US withdrawal and defeat
— Dinesh D’Souza (@DineshDSouza) January 10, 2015
Others have called out Holder’s skewed sense of justice and legal priorities, as was tweeted here:
All you need to know about Obama’s DOJ is it wouldn’t prosecute the New Black Panthers but will try to put away a military hero. #Petraeus
— Razor (@hale_razor) January 10, 2015
I suggest that perhaps the president has something to hide that he’s afraid Petraeus might reveal in a tell-all book — something that could spoil his legacy.
Despite Obama’s proclamations to the contrary, he doesn’t much like the military, he’s abhorrent to what the military does and it’s doubtful, even after six years as its commander-in-chief, that he even understands the military.
Former defense secretaries Leon Panetta and Robert Gates each wrote memoirs highly critical of Obama, under whom they both served, according to The Washington Times.
Gates’ work, Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary at War, was harshly critical of Obama’s leadership, observing that he “doesn’t believe in his own strategy, and doesn’t consider the war to be his. For him, it’s all about getting out.”
This was followed by Panetta’s own book, Worthy Fights, in which he, like Gates, blasted his former boss’s leadership and also blamed him for the rise of the Islamic State. Panetta also served as Obama’s CIA director from 2009 to 2011.
Even Robert Gibbs, the president’s biggest cheerleader when he served as the White House chief spokesman, has been critical of Obama and his administration on several occasions.
Could that be what it’s all about? Protecting his legacy? If so, I submit it’s already too late. There’s nothing left to protect.
