The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation and Justice Department sought to charge former CIA Director, David Petraeus, with felony for letting an author, whom he had an affair with, gain access to classified information, a New York daily reported.

The recommendation came after a probe into romantic relations between Petraeus and Paula Broadwell, who wrote the retired general's biography. Investigators zeroed in on the Broadwell's access to Petraeus' email account with the CIA and other confidential data.

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Federal agents unearthed classified files on Broadwell's computer after the former CIA chief resigned in 2012 when the affair was discovered.

Petraeus denied providing Broadwell with classified information and ruled out a plea bargain that will spare him from going to trial. A lawyer for Petraeus declined to comment.

Besides heading the CIA, Petraeus, 62, who graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, served as commander of U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Federal investigators concluded that there was a significant security breach in the backyard of a highly trusted intelligence leader, regardless if the disclosure compromised national security. They said lower-ranking officials had faced prosecution for far lesser offenses.

Federal agents stumbled onto the retired general's affair with his biographer after Jill Kelley, a friend of Petraeus's, told the FBI that anonymous threatening emails had been sent to her. They traced the message to Broadwell and began going through her emails, which led to their discovery that she was having romantic liaisons with Petraeus.

The general is reported to have started the affair with Broadwell in 2011, not long after being appointed to the CIA, the time she was interviewing him for the biography, "All In: The Education of General David Petraeus."

Petraeus stepped down from the intelligence agency three days after President Obama was re-elected. In a statement, Petraeus admitted having the affair and showing extremely poor judgment, as a married man of over 37 years. 

TagsDavid Petraeus, CIA, FBI