David Petraeus, the director of the Central Intelligence Agency, resigned from his position after reports surfaced that was unfaithful to his wife.
David Petraeus had an affair with his biographer that was revealed over the course of an FBI investigation. The FBI had been investigating an unrelated and much broader case before stumbling on the affair.
"After being married for over 37 years, I showed extremely poor judgment by engaging in an extramarital affair," the highly decorated general said in a message to staff.
"Such behavior is unacceptable, both as a husband and as the leader of an organization such as ours. This afternoon, the President graciously accepted my resignation."
The issue is a sensitive one for the C.I.A., as agents engaging in affairs could possibly be blackmailed for information, the New York Times reports.
President Obama released a statement praising Mr. Petraeus for his "extraordinary service" to the country and saying that Michael J. Morell, the deputy director of the C.I.A., would take over once again as acting director. He served in that position briefly after Leon E. Panetta left the agency last year.
"By any measure, through his lifetime of service, David Petraeus has made our country safer and stronger," the president said. Without directly addressing the affair, Obama added: "Going forward, my thoughts and prayers are with Dave and Holly Petraeus, who has done so much to help military families through her own work. I wish them the very best at this difficult time." Ms. Petraeus is the assistant director of the Office of Servicemember Affairs at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
