Disgraced former CIA boss could be Trump's secretary of state

  • 29/11/2016
Former CIA director David Petraeus leaves the North Carolina Federal Courthouse in 2015 (Reuters)
Former CIA director David Petraeus leaves the North Carolina Federal Courthouse in 2015 (Reuters)

US President-elect Donald Trump this week will meet with retired US General David Petraeus and US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker, as well as hold a second meeting with 2012 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, Trump's transition team said.

Mr Trump will meet with Petraeus on Monday, and with Corker and Romney on Tuesday, Trump aides told reporters on a conference call.

All three have been floated as potential picks to be Mr Trump's secretary of state.

Petraeus resigned in 2012 as CIA director after it emerged he had an extra-marital affair. He was later sentenced to two years' probation and ordered to pay a US$100,000 fine after pleading guilty to mishandling classified information.

He has indicated that he would serve in Mr Trump's administration if asked.

Meanwhile, Mr Trump's transition team on Monday pushed back against an emerging effort to recount votes from the November 8 presidential election, calling it "nonsense," but not offering any evidence to back the president-elect's weekend tweet alleging millions of illegal votes.

The Green Party last week filed for a recount in Wisconsin, a move joined by lawyers for Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, and has said it will seek a recount in Michigan and Pennsylvania.

Reuters