Two years after being convicted of sharing classified information with his biographer and lover, General David Petraeus has been sentenced to two years on probation and required to pay a $100,000 fine for his actions. At one time, Petraeus was a widely known military leader who oversaw many operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, there was even talk about being a potential presidential candidate. Petraeus rose through the ranks, leading the United States Central Command, but retired to lead the CIA at the request of President Barack Obama. After only a year in his position, a resignation letter was received and only new information began to surface regarding Petraeus’ personal life.

“Today marks the end of a two-and-a-half-year ordeal, I now look forward to moving on with the next phase of my life,” Petraeus reports after his sentencing.

In March of 2012, Petraeus pled guilty to the federal charge of a sharing classified information with Paula Broadwell, his biographer, in a black notebook that held notes from national security meetings, along with identities of covert officers and other documents. Some have characterized this plea led to a misdemeanor too lenient. Abbie Lowell, a lawyer who represents a government leaker currently in jail, wrote in a statement to the Justice Department that this specific deal showed a “profound double standard.” On the other hand, many Petraeus defenders see the misdemeanor as too rough of a charge.

“High level officials leak classified information to forward their own agendas with virtual impunity,” states Lowell, in reference to Petraeus’ positon as former CIA director.

As a result of a plea deal, Petraeus was able to avoid jail time due to prosecutors agreeing that the information was never released to the public or in the biography written by Broadwell. As news began to flow out, Broadwell was eventually identified as having more than a business relationship with the General. Due to the public awareness of his relationship, Petraeus decided to lie low until the mid 2013 when he began accepting positions at universities. During these past two years, Petraeus’ friends and family have been supportive of him, including his wife Holly, although during court procedures, there was no sign of any family members joining him. Many college friends have also stuck by Petraeus’ side and have described the events “painful to watch.”

“The world has deemed it clear that we recognize that we’re all human. It didn’t seem like he has reached the apogee of his career,” says John Duffield, a friend of Petraeus from school years at Princeton University.

Originally, Petraeus was only going to have to pay $40,000 along with the two years on probation, but a federal judge ordered him to pay $100,000 in order to reflect on the seriousness of the offense.  As the case begins to come to a close, Petraeus has thought about positioning himself in public leadership once again.

“The inevitable human dimensions of people who are still great Americans,” reports Michael O’Hanlon, a close friend of Petraeus.

FSA Questions

1. In the article, the author uses the word “lenient”, what is the connotation of that word?
2. What is the author’s main idea of the article?
3. Choose two sentences that support that idea.
4. In the text, what is the definition of the word impunity?