The US Department of Justice and the FBI have recommended that former CIA chief David Petraeus be charged for allegedly providing confidential information to female Army Reserve officer Paula Broadwell, with whom he was having an affair.

The New York Times cited officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The investigation would focus on whether Petraeus (pictured above, center) gave Broadwell access to his email account and other highly classified information. Petraeusquit his position as director of the CIA in 2012 after his relationship with Broadwell became public.

Prosecutors with the FBI and the Department of Justice have recommended felony charges for Petraeus. However, it would be up to US Attorney General Eric Holder to make the final decision.

Petraeus has maintained that he did not provide Broadwell with any classified data and that he has no interest in a plea deal which would allow him to avoid a trial.

The former CIA chief was once a leading military figure in the US, having served as commander of US forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.

mg/cmk (Reuters, AFP)