Shadows of J. Edgar Hoover in the Petraeus Affair

[DonViejo]

by Tim Weiner Nov 16, 2012 4:45 AM EST

Didn’t we all decide a long time ago that it’s none of the FBI’s damn business what any American does in bed? How one rogue agent brings back the bureau’s darkest days.

Everybody loves a Washington sex scandal. But let’s not talk about sex for a second. A truly serious crime may have been committed in the Petraeus case. Was the relationship between the Great Man and the Other Woman a crime? No way; fornication and adultery are not federal offenses.

What about the flaming emails she sent to the Other Other Woman? Not even close to a crime. Nothing to see here. Move along. But wait! The billets-doux Petraeus sent to his paramour-cum-biographer on an unencrypted Gmail account! Weren’t they a threat to national security? An invitation to blackmail?

Not at all—unless Paula Broadwell turns out to be a Russian spy (which is all this story needs to fully command the attention of Congress and the media until we all fall down the fiscal cliff).

But, yes, a potentially serious violation of legal procedure took place in this sordid mess. It was the conduct of the Federal Bureau of Investigation agent at the heart of L’Affaire Petraeus.

more:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/11/16/tim-weiner-shadows-of-j-edgar-hoover-in-the-petraeus-affair.html