CIA Director David Petraeus submits resignation

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Bigger stand -- if you'll want to get to our chief intelligence correspondent Catherine Herridge Catherine you were among the first.

To put and you are urging -- David Petraeus has in fact submitted his resignation letter and what have you learned since that -- Well whether any of us -- Trace is that there was a chain of events this week I was told.

That there was a major meeting that was set up at the CIA for Thursday of this week.

It did involve bringing some principles in from out of town and that the meeting was canceled.

At short notice because director Petraeus.

Had to take a meeting with the president now what would be a standard operating procedure here.

Is that his deputy would take that kind of meeting but I was told the issue was such that it could only be taken by the CIA director.

-- I just learned from an intelligence official a short time ago.

Is that it was on Thursday that the CIA director asked the president.

If he could submit his letter -- -- resignation.

For personal reasons I was not told anything more than that.

And then today that letter was accepted.

By the president.

While while the request was for personal reasons I think we need to lay out a couple of things that have happened just in the last few weeks alone.

I was also told today that there was considerable angst about a briefing that was given -- by the CIA last week.

Which laid out their timeline or their version of events what in folded in May Ghazi and specifically the emergency response in -- -- I was told.

Was it possible that the White House did not sanction that.

And the White House did not approve of that timeline because it in -- said what happened there was not our problem it was someone else's problem.

The other thing to consider as we first reported here at fox is that there really was a disconnect.

Between what lawmakers -- the wry intelligence about Ben -- -- point towards a terrorist attack.

And the briefings they received from the CIA director within days of that attack he can just stay with me let me lay -- out for you.

Just a couple of days after the attack on 9/11 I was able to confirm that the FBI in the National Counterterrorism Center were briefing to lawmakers.

That the evidence supported knees were telephone intercepts that it wasn't al-Qaeda or -- Qaeda related event.

And then the following day the CIA director went up to Capitol Hill.

And briefed that it really did seem to be a demonstration that -- spun out of control like a flash mob and that the origination was -- anti Islam video.

This disconnect.

Really upset lawmakers who felt that there was other intelligence that pointed to a terrorist attack.

-- General Petraeus seem to downplay that in his briefing in addition I'm told.

That the attack in Ben Ghazi not only created concern.

About the murder of the ambassador and those three other Americans.

But it also created great angst about the exposure.

Of the death and -- of the CIA operation in -- -- which is largely an operation.

That is focused on getting at these stinger miss -- Off the battlefield if you will and let in Libyan out of the hands.

Of extremists.

So again what we know right now is that he asked to be released for personal reasons.

We need to take that -- -- value until we know otherwise that you have to see that statement.

In the context.

Of those three factors I've just laid out and I just want to close by reading the section of the statement and we just had from the Director of National Intelligence.

A James clapper this is someone.

Who is the nation's top intelligence official and has really worked hand in glove if you will with the CIA director and these are men who have known each other.

For decades.

And the statement reads in part from James clapper.

I have spent more than five decades serving our country in uniform and out.

And all -- all the exceptional men and women that I have worked with over the years I can honestly say.

-- David Petraeus stands out as one of our nation's great patriots on behalf of the entire intelligence community I thank -- for his service his support.

And his continued friendship.

And I can also tell you my conversations this afternoon while there was the great urgency.

About the news that the CIA director had resigned you also had that sense of sadness this is someone who is dedicated.

3040 years of his life to service not only in the military but now to the US intelligence community Trace and -- Catherine let me if I -- -- in here for a second -- we -- heard speculation that he may have resigned for personal reasons and one of those reasons.

We were getting word -- was a possibility of an extramarital affair while we now have confirm this because.

A letter has now been submitted by David Petraeus himself and if you would.

Catherine stand by Ed Henry stand by I'll get comments me afterward religious -- -- letter in its entirety it says and I'm quoting here.

The following message was released.

To the CIA workforce this afternoon it says yesterday afternoon this is from David Petraeus I went to the White House and asked the president to be allowed for personal reasons to resign from my position as CIA director.

After being married for over 37 years I showed extremely -- judgment.

By engaging in an extramarital affair such behavior is unacceptable both as a husband and as the leader of an organization such as hours.

This afternoon the president graciously accepted my resignation.

As I depart Langley I want you to know that it has been the greatest of privilege is to have served with you the officers of our nation's silent service a workforce that is truly exceptional in every regard indeed.

You did extraordinary work.

On a host of critical missions during my time as director and I am deeply grateful to you for that.

Teddy Roosevelt once observed that life's greatest gift is the opportunity to work hard.

At work worth doing I will always treasure my opportunity to have done that -- you.

And I will always regret the circumstances.

That brought the work -- you.

-- -- and thank you for your extraordinary service to our country and best wishes for continued success.

In important endeavors that lie ahead for our country and for our agency it is signed with admiration and appreciation.

David H Petraeus and and Catherine back to you quickly thank cancel it now has been confirmed.

Baghdad General Petraeus did have an extramarital affair that's why he's resigning.

-- it's rare -- a lot of things we've seen for someone to come out and get ahead of the news curve and kind of get this thing out in the open.

And then resign before anybody even had wind of of the affair itself accurate.

Well I think you have to take at face value because that is the statement but again you have to see the resignation.

If it is for personal reasons as -- states you have to seed in the context.

Of the timing it's coming before I would argue probably the biggest set of briefings and hearings on Ben Ghazi.

That we will have on Capitol Hill certainly before the end of this lame duck session.

And number two this comes really in the midst of what one may consider one of the greatest controversies.

Of the CIA in the last decade when I've been speaking to people about Ben Ghazi and the closed hearings next week.

They talked about this on the scale of WMD with a rock that this was such a significant.

Blow to the agency the exposure of their presence and really pushing them out.

Eastern Libya so again he says it's for personal reasons I think we accept that.

-- face value but we have to see in the context coming before these hearings.

Not clear who will take his place at those hearings and number two in the context of the last two months and what has been.

Very vocal dissatisfaction from some lawmakers on Capitol Hill with the quality of the brief.

And the presentations from the CIA director on -- -- --

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CIA Director David Petraeus submits resignation

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