‘I screwed up royally’: David Petraeus discusses sex scandal, affair in letter to close friend

Former CIA director David Petraeus said he “screwed up royally” by having an affair that ended up costing him his job, according to a Thursday report.

ABCNews said retired Brigadier Gen. James Shelton, who has been friends with Petraeus for more than 30 years, said he received a letter from him confessing to the affair with biographer Paula Broadwell.

In the letter, the former general also discussed his wife of 38 years.

He said Holly Petraeus is demonstrating how fortunate he was to marry her, according to the article.

The FBI discovered the relationship between Petraeus and Broadwell after tracking anonymous emails Broadwell allegedly sent to socialite Jill Kelley, warning Kelley to stay away from Petraeus and Gen. John Allen, according to The Associated Press. Read more about the letter and see the full ABCNews article .