'There was no affair then and there is not one now,' Powell's statement reads. Powell denies affair after email hack

Colin Powell has penned a letter to The Smoking Gun, denying he had an affair after a hacker revealed the former secretary of state’s personal emails with Romanian diplomat and politician Corina Cretu, a spokesperson for Powell confirms.

“Over time the emails became of a very personal nature, but did not result in an affair. Those type of emails ended a few years ago,” Powell’s statement posted by the website reads. “There was no affair then and there is not one now.”


In March a hacker with the name “Guccifer” reportedly hacked into Powell’s personal email and Facebook account, publishing various email threads. “Guccifer” is allegedly the same hacker who published personal Bush family emails and photos in February. Powell then reportedly told Cretu to delete all emails between them.

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According to The Smoking Gun, Powell said in an email to the website that “in light of what was happening it seems obvious to ask Ms. Cretu to delete emails.”

Referring to personal photos Cretu e-mailed to him, Powell wrote, “She sent photos on a regular basis. Lots of family photos with her nieces, who she adores, family reunions, formal business sessions, her wedding and some bathing suit photos… Never anything improper.”

In his statement, Powell said he has known Cretu for ten years and met when he was secretary of state and she was an assistant to the President of Romania.

Peggy Cifrino, a spokesperson for Powell, confirmed The Smoking Gun’s report.

”Yes, the article accurately reflects the situation and that is General Powell’s statement,” Cifrino said in an email.