Senators, generals, ambassadors, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and the owner of The Atlantic were in the roster of powerful voices who wrote to a federal judge to ask him to go easy on former CIA director and retired general David Petraeus, who admitted to giving classified information to his mistress and biographer.
Petraeus pleaded guilty in April to a misdemeanor charge of mishandling classified information and was sentenced to two years probation and a $100,000 fine. The punishment stands in contrast to far harsher penalties sought for whistleblowers and leakers in less prominent positions.
The letters, released by a federal court in North Carolina today, attest to Petraeus’s good character, and many ask that he not face jail time.
Among the current and former lawmakers who wrote in was former Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman, who has pushed for strict anti-leak legislation and who said in 2010 that the individuals responsible for WikiLeaks “are going to have blood on their hands.” WikiLeaks was “not only an attack on our national security, but an offense against our democracy and the principle of transparency,” he told CBS News.
Just a few years later, he said that Petraeus’s offense, by contrast, “showed that even such an extraordinary human being can make mistakes and yield to public temptation.”
“Dave is also humanly flawed, as many are, for which he has paid a huge price both personally and professionally,” wrote Admiral Michael Mullen, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., also wrote in on Petraeus’s behalf, though he regularly blasts the Obama administration for national security leaks, but argued that his “friend” Petraeus should not see jail time. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., who has called Edward Snowden’s actions “treason,” wrote that she believes Petraeus “recognizes the error of his actions as well as the importance of protecting classified information.”
David Bradley, chairman of Atlantic Media, which publishes The Atlantic and The National Journal, among other publications, wrote that he had heard the argument, “layers and layers deep into the city,” that “the Justice Department exercise its discretion not to prosecute the general.”
The 34 letters were initially filed under seal in federal court in the Western District of North Carolina. In April, the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press led a group of news organizations, including The Intercept’s publisher, First Look Media, in suing to have them made public.
A sentencing memorandum by Petraeus’s lawyers was also released today.
Read all the letters submitted to court:
Photo: Chuck Burton/AP
Double Moral
Cora you are responsible for making me shit myself! Don’t take this the wrong way, please. Strangely, my body seems to react equally to disgusting human behavior. Since Patraeus (i don’t care if his name is spelled right) has demonstrated he is a perfect turd while perfectly shitting on this country. Thus, I made a mess of myself of such disgust nobody will help, perfect. General Patricia (I don’t care if I spelled her name wrong) is clearly guilty of treason and put you, me and everyone else at risk. I don’t know how women can hover at a public toilet because my quads are on fire from hovering. I better waddle to the garden hose and think of how to encarcerate the perfect turd and wash myself of the same.
The three branches are completely infected…
Murdoch is miserable that he can’t run this Punch at the Perfect Judy. Can Hillary take one for the Boys Club or WHAT? She takes the lick then keep on coming back for more. The two would make a perfect cover story for whatever those inside want us to pretend passes for president. Harding Har Har.
I generally hate things being too O/T but I’m curious if you studied communications or public relations or something — advertising, perhaps, writing slogans and jingles and inserting assorted semi-canned punditry.
Great that they are so very understanding…curious as to their level of accommodation not extending to Edward Snowden…
“We’re an Empire now, and we as rulers create our own realities. All that the rest of you can do about it, is watch.”
Can’t add much really. Res Ipsa Loquitor… It’s clear the endless prattle about rule of law is meant for the proles – who don’t even know what it means anymore. Democracy is an empty form and the Republic is hollow.
The Power Club…the Meritocracy. The fascists.
Quite simply, Sen. Feinstein absolutely needs to shut up and retire. Feinstein represents Feinstein. Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee?…an oxymoron
Isn’t it funny how the elite never recognize the error of their actions until they get caught? What blows me away about this story beyond the astonishing double standard, is how utterly amateurish this battle-hardened General is at pillow talk. His mistake was absolutely inexcusable as well as just plain stupid–something that a schoolboy would do. What if his sqeeze had been a double agent? I think he should do some time for being so dumb. Nothing really illustrates the disparity between the ruling class and those without power as well as this tale of double standards and gross hypocrisy.
Let him miss jail if you want, but take his pension & healthcare & and Social Security & Medicare. Giving away classified information is still the act of treason and he should be treated as a traitor. If you let him off with a fine then others should be able to get off with a fine too. Democracy isn’t supposed to be a tiered system. It sure looks like Justice no longer has a blindfold.
Meanwhile, Assange is in virtual prison and Snowden can’t come home, for telling the truth. Depends on who you are, I guess.
Chelsea Manning…
Dear Kindly Judge Your Honor,
We believe you should let Gen. Petraeus off. After all, we can tell you that if this court doesn’t go along with us, we can always go to the secret court and make what we at Harvard Law School called “an end run.” So, if we don’t have to obey the laws that Congress wrote and the President signed, why should Gen. Petraeus? And his mistress? After this bit of mischief?
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jun/09/obama-fisa-court-surveillance-phone-records
Even the President is signing laws and then circumventing them, so you really should start a precedent and give Gen. Petraeus a “get out of jail free” card. It could get very sticky in Washington otherwise.
Yours, sincerely,
The Obama Justice Department
PS. This letter is top secret, so don’t show it to your mistresses.
Utterly disgusting. Everything about this country is now utterly disgusting. We officially suck.
rick..I am too named rick. You have officially described the feelings of America. Although I would add that disgusting is a massive understatement. In reality, we now are citizens of the UNITED STATES OF DEPRAVITY. period.
As a Canadian, I am surprised that this is allowed in the USA. Communicating with a judge to influence the progress of a trial is strictly prohibited here, and a sentencing hearing is done in a public forum, where all presenters are known and heard.
BTW, we could use a paper like Intercept here, as we have many issues of our own that need airing,
“As a Canadian, I am surprised that this is allowed in the USA. Communicating with a judge to influence the progress of a trial is strictly prohibited here…” Things work differently here. I believe his supporters filed something called “A Friend of the Felon Brief” , which may or may not actually exist. It’s a secret which I may or may not have just made up. I’m not at liberty to say. National Security, you know. I hope this clears up your confusion, Snow.
Uh, The Intercept is an on-line construct. I’m Canadian as well. You don’t see an American flag pin at the top, do you? There has been criticism of governments across the West. Brits and Aussies comment here, as well as Israelis.
Maybe they can nab Petraeus at Bilderberg. His name is on the attendance list.
Dear Judge: Please pardon Edward Snowden, who is only human and a great American patriot. Signed: God.
Best comment in the last 2 years.
this is likely a telling sign of an empire in decline. the ruling elite has decided they are above the law.
Gerald Ford trumpeted that loud and clear in the 1970s when he pardoned Richard Nixon…and in Great Britain, Tony Blair is still walking around free.
. . Good character ?.? So they prove they aren’t of good character – to cover for someone who has proven all by himself not to have any. Good Character stands for itself by itself – Good Character is judged solely by itself . . . . . .one hand washes the other hand BECAUSE BOTH ARE DIRTY. . . . .
a list of names which are all part of the “elite”…… interesting old boys network – hand washers…….. Honest as the day is SHORT. I wonder what story could be put
together – for other purposes. WE the PEOPLE ( excludes that list of names)…… TRUTH – JUSTICE…….. why do I find that doubtful ?.?
Petraeus is one of the highest paid operatives of the military industrial complex that is driving us into poverty and murder. Jail him for god’s sake so that the others of his ilk will take note and think twice before committing more crime.
Indeed..and while we’re at it, let’s drag the rest of these scumbag pieces of shit out of their granite palaces into the street and burn them alive.
Nah. There are lots of old prisons that they built, and for the Cheney/Bush/Blair types, execution chambers in Texas that they really like to use.
They should remember Admiral Byng. It’s 2015, so the firing squad is probably out of the question. But Petraeus should be locked up for life without parole, “pour encourager les autres”.
He’s a great man who made a mistake. But he has to pay for that mistake, I’m disappointed that he didn’t stand up and own it. It’s hypocritical at best for him not to do any time. Shame on him and the judge for bending to the powers that be.
How is it that the puppets and infiltrators of the CABAL such as feinstien and company claim adherance to the rule of law while delegitimizing the constitutuional rule of law for the sake of HAcKING alias known as bullk collection “”collect it all to know it all”” that in fact was rule by the supreme court as unconstitutional because the constitutional prohibits HACKING, no matter how the corrupt usa governance pretends to unmaske the illegality of violating their own usa-constitutional rule of law. So much for the farse of recommendation socrates!!!!! ok socrates was a non-jew. mmmmmm
What kind of recommendation is given when the puppets and infiltrators in the USA governance while dressed in “”democracy Clothing” subvert the consitutional rule of law by unadhearance of it when the usa consititution does not allow adherance to HACKING alias known as bulk collection without warrants, notifications, notices as the bulk collection was struck down pinky fingers down by the supreme court. Now they want to extend the illegality and subversion of the constitution for six months more. What part of ILLEGAL do you not understand? The non-jewish funders of the usa would be disgusted with what the infiltrators in public office are subverting. Wake up. or is it too late already?
The vast majority of the populations of the world must not allowe the CABAL (wicked elite and their puppets, informants and infiltrators) to perpetrate, peddle and advance a worst than all the totalitarian/ authoritarians regimes combine while dressed in anything(constitutional democracy and so much more) that is honorable while subverting all that entails “”what is right.” – Alejandro Grace Ararat
The US-governance is untroubled by the implication of its actions(hacking alias known as bulk collection and that is just one program imagine the other nefarious programs) under the color of public office and under the color of law against their own consitutuional rule of law while dress in “”democracy clothing” and calling their hacking of peoples communications domestically and abroad “the very patriotic thing to do”” while it was illegal to do so before during and after this worst than all the totalitarian/autoritarian/fascist regimes combined. Whatever bush wants or rather whatever the ziomasonsatanist want they can do or should I still need to point out BULK COLLECTION or hacking is illegal and goes against the constitutional rule of law. Wake up. )
Wow, even William McRaven, the main bad guy from Dirty Wars, shows up!
“We were highly successful throughout my tenure as the Joint Special Operations Commander, because General Petraeus gave me the latitude and support to do my job. And…when we failed, which we did occasionally, he understood. Even good people make mistakes.”
Kudos to First Look and THE//INTERCEPT!!!
This collection of letters from this cabal of miscreant sycophants sure would make for some interesting commentary amongst the MSM infotainment news psycho-babblers; but their masters wouldn’t stand for it.
As Usual,
EA
Do these people ever think their talking points sound ridiculous?
Translation: he only showed the secrets to his mistress, and he really does feel guilty now that he’s trying to cop a plea. Edward Snowden wanted to do a public service, and that’s treason by our definition, which is that you owe loyalty to your ruling class, not the country. Only commoners have principles; your superiors have mistresses.
EXACTLY!!!
As Usual,
EA
fuk. Dear coram nobis, may your words go down in the annuls of contemporary commentary as Great Moments in Astute
Well said coram.
How is it that the puppets and infiltrators of the CABAL such as feinstien and company claim adherance to the rule of law while delegitimizing the constitutuional rule of law for the sake of HAcKING alias known as bullk collection “”collect it all to know it all”” that in fact was rule by the supreme court as unconstitutional because the constitutional prohibits HACKING, no matter how the corrupt usa governance pretends to maske the illegality of violating their own usa-constitutional rule of law. So much for the farse of recommendation and adherance socrates!!!!! ok socrates was a non-jew. mmmmmm
What kind of recommendation is given when the puppets and infiltrators in the USA governance while dressed in “”democracy Clothing” subvert the consitutional rule of law by unadhearance of it when the usa consititution does not allow adherance to HACKING alias known as bulk collection without warrants, notifications, notices as the bulk collection was struck down pinky fingers down by the supreme court. Now they want to extend the illegality and subversion of the constitution for six months more. What part of ILLEGAL do you not understand? The non-jewish funders of the usa would be disgusted with what the infiltrators in public office are subverting. Wake up. or is it too late already?
The vast majority of the populations of the world must not allowe the CABAL (wicked elite and their puppets, informants and infiltrators) to perpetrate, peddle and advance a worst than all the totalitarian/ authoritarians regimes combine while dressed in anything(constitutional democracy and so much more) that is honorable while subverting all that entails “”what is right.” – Alejandro Grace Ararat
I’m suspicious about Lindsay Graham’s comments. Could it be that the “girlfriend” was really a boyfriend? Back to rehab again??…..
Easily distinguishable: who, among these exalted amici, cannot understand how one might have to trade on one’s privileged access to impress a side piece now and again? on the other hand, who, among these same exalted amici, could recognize how one might risk sacrifice in the name of the public interest?
same old story: public interest good, pubic interest better.
Petraeus should be jailed for his Afghanistan night raids, if nothing else. The man is an absolute monster, depraved, violent, and strategically moronic. People speaking well of him is sick.
Yes indeed!
Cindy is hereby nominated for this years Great Moments in Truth award for 2015.
Feinstein is particularly terrible:
” . . . he was clearly one of the most capable officers of his generation . . .” and
“Between 2007 and early 2011, Gen. Petraeus was the most prominent and respected officer in the US. military.”
Dianne must really hate the military to insult them so thoroughly.
On the other hand, it’s pretty clear that among US generals and admirals, Petraeus probably was one of the most capable of his generation and certainly one of the most prominent officers. In other words, first among idiots. I can’t say that there has been a truly first class officer in US service during my lifetime. Our infrequent military successes have either been very fleeting (win battles but not wars) or have come about as a result of our willingness to outspend our adversaries 1000 to 1, such as in our impressive victory over Grenada.
Editing error: “first class officer” should be “first class general officer”. My apologies to the many good officers inadvertently affronted.
Vichy Joe doesn’t have a problem with covert agent’s names being given to Israel …
We only have Broadwell’s word that she did not show the volumes of top secret information, given to her by Petreaus, to anyone.
“Some people commit crimes. Other people make mistakes.”
That must be what was meant all my life by blind justice. Funny coincidence however that somehow the rich and powerful make mistakes and the lowlifes (that’s the rest of us) commit crimes.
Oh no. I simply can’t. But thank you for the nauseating story, if you know what I mean.
Oh, yes you can. These letters were submitted before but I’m re-submitting them as a favor to the General.
– – –
You and Benito could make a fortune.
holy mother of .. OMG. Dear coram nobis. You are hereby nominated for this years award in Great Moments in Brilliant.
Some people commit crimes. Other people make mistakes. The difference can be hard to describe. That’s one function of a legal expert.
oh for fucks sake. Patraeus compromised his elite position in the military by virtue of a fucking hard on for his mistress. Snowden compromised the lies of state. Fuck you.