12 November 2012 Last updated at 13:22 ET

David Petraeus: Broadwell affair was 'colossal mistake'

Steve Boylan said the former spymaster knows he has made a "colossal mistake"

Former CIA director David Petraeus has acknowledged his extra-marital affair was a "colossal mistake", his former spokesman has told ABC News.

Retired Army Col Steve Boylan said Gen Petraeus' wife Holly was "not exactly pleased" by the revelation, adding that "furious would be an understatement".

The former general resigned over a relationship with Paula Broadwell, his biographer and a former army officer.

It was discovered after a second woman, Jill Kelley, reported harassing emails.

Ms Kelley told the FBI that she had received anonymous emails, prompting an investigation into Mrs Broadwell.

In his interview with ABC News, Col Boylan said Gen Petraeus' affair with Mrs Broadwell, 40, began after the four-star general retired from the army.

"This was poor judgement on his part," Col Boylan said, "It was a colossal mistake, he knows that, he's acknowledged that."

Jill Kelley (l) and Holly Petraeus were friends for years

"Now he and his family are going to try to move forward and pass this, which we know is going to be hard work, and it's going to take time."

Col Boylan added: "They're a strong family. They'll get through this."

The relationship began about two months after Gen Petraeus, 60, took up his post as director of the CIA, Col Boylan said. He also said it ended about four months ago.

Adultery is illegal under military law, and correspondents say Gen Petraeus could face military prosecution if evidence is found to challenge his claims that the affair began after he left the army.

The former general joined the CIA in 2011 after heading international forces in Iraq and later in Afghanistan.

He was the highest-profile military officer of the post-9/11 years, and was widely credited for his role in running the "surge" in Iraq and implementing a counter-insurgency strategy in Afghanistan.

'Lightning bolt'

Gen Petraeus' resignation on Friday sent shockwaves through Washington, coming just days after President Barack Obama won a second term in office and pre-empting any reshuffle of his national security team.

Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein, head of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said the news came as a "lightning bolt", in an appearance on Fox News on Sunday.

US lawmakers have begun asking whether national security may have been compromised by the affair, and why they were not told sooner. Many are urging an investigation into the FBI's handling of the case as more details emerge.

The FBI probe sparked by Mrs Kelley showed the harassing emails had come from Mrs Broadwell, and further inquiry revealed evidence of her affair with Gen Petraeus.

In a statement, Mrs Kelley and her husband acknowledged their friendship with Gen Petraeus and asked for privacy.

"We and our family have been friends with Gen Petraeus and his family for over five years. We respect his and his family's privacy and want the same for us and our three children," she said.

Reports suggest that senior FBI and justice department officials learned about the affair over the summer, but it is not clear whether FBI Director Robert Mueller or Attorney General Eric Holder were informed.

Benghazi query

In the autumn, Mrs Broadwell admitted to the affair and allowed her computer to be searched. Classified documents were found on it.

Paula Broadwell graduated from the same West Point academy as Gen Petraeus

Later, Gen Petraeus acknowledged he had been having an affair but said he had not given Mrs Broadwell the classified information.

He stepped down on Friday, acknowledging in his resignation letter that he had shown "extremely poor judgment".

His fall from grace has focussed attention again on events surrounding an attack on the US consulate on Benghazi, Libya, which saw four Americans killed on 11 September, including Ambassador Chris Stephens.

Gen Petraeus was due to testify on Thursday before a closed-door congressional committee meeting.

His place will now be taken by acting Director Michael Morrell, but Gen Petraeus could be called to give evidence at a later date.

Source : bbc[dot]co[dot]uk