CIA Dir. Gen. Petraeus resigns

1 hr ago By MSN News and other wires

He submitted his resignation and cited an extra-marital affair as the reason.

msn/The CIA director said he was resigning because he had exercised "extremely poor judgment' in conducting an extra-marital affair.
In a statement to the CIA workforce, Petraeus wrote, "Yesterday afternoon, I went to the White House and asked the president to be allowed, for personal reasons, to resign from my position as D/CIA. 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."
"Dave's decision to step down represents the loss of one of our nation's most respected public servants," Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said in a statement, according to Reuters. "From his long, illustrious Army career to his leadership at the helm of CIA, Dave has redefined what it means to serve and sacrifice for one's country.".
Obama accepted the resignation and said the general has "made our country safer and stronger," according to the Associated Press
"I am completely confident that the CIA will continue to thrive and carry out its essential mission, and I have the utmost confidence in Acting Director Michael Morell," Obama said in a written statement, according to Reuters.
Petraeus took over as head of the CIA in September of 2011. Before taking over the CIA, he had led the surge into Iraq under former President Bush.
According to ABCNews.com, his wife, Holly, has worked with the Obama administration "to help military families."