Obama's 'favorite general' admits leaking classified information to press

Retired James Cartwright admitted lying to FBI investigators about discussing classified government information with reporters.

General Cartwright (left) stands next to US President Barack Obama in 2011. Photo: UPI.

"I was wrong to mislead the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on November 2, 2012, and I take full responsibility for this," UPI quoted Cartwright as saying yesterday in federal court.

Although not the original source of the information, he admitted to discussing classified information with reporters after they published stories, with the goal of preventing the publication of information that could compromise national security.

"I know I was not the source in the story and I do not want to be blamed for the leak. My sole goal was to speak to reporters to protect American interests and lives. I love my country and continue to work today to do everything I can to protect it," Cartwright said.

Cartwright will be sentenced next year, facing a fine, suspended jail term or up to six months in prison, although the judge could impose a heavier sentence.

Before retiring in 2011, Cartwright served as vice chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff since 2007. He was considered a close aide to Mr. Obama, even called his "favorite general".

He was accused of lying to FBI investigators when he denied providing classified information to New York Times reporters David Sanger and Newsweek reporters Daniel Klaidman.

Sanger wrote books and articles about a computer virus that disabled part of one of Iran's nuclear facilities. Reporters tracked it down and discovered it was the result of U.S. government action.

The New York Times released a statement about the incident. "We are disappointed that the Justice Department continues to investigate the leaks that led to General Cartwright's guilty plea today. These investigations send a threatening message to all government employees that they should not talk to reporters. The inevitable result is that the American public will not have access to the information they need to know."

According to VNE