Petraeus needs to notify his probation officer if he appointed secretary of state

Former CIA director and retired general, David Petraeus, will have 72 hours to notify his probation officer if he is chosen as President-elect Donald Trump's secretary of state. Petraeus would also require a pardon from the incoming president for his misdemeanour charge of mishandling classified information, for which he is serving a two-year probation sentence.

According to the terms of Petraeus' sentence, his probation officer has the right to search his personal and office computer and must be notified before Petraeus travels from North Carolina. New York Magazine noted that unless his probation officer has security clearance, that arrangement would not work.

The Hill reported that in addition to his probation guidelines, Petraeus could be subjected to ad hoc searches, without the need for a warrant, should he appointed to Trump's cabinet while still serving his sentence.

"The defendant shall submit his person, residence, office, vehicle and/or any computer system including computer data storage media, or any electronic device capable of storing, retrieving, and/or accessing data to which they have access or control, to a search, from time to time, conducted by any US Probation Officer and such other law enforcement personnel as the probation officer may deem advisable, without a warrant," stated a court judgement, which was first revealed by USA Today.

President-elect Trump could absolve the former CIA director by pardoning him or commuting his sentence, however, that could just highlight Petraeus' legal trouble. Petraeus was sentenced to two years of probation and a $100,000 (£79,000) in April 2015 for giving his mistress and biographer, Paula Broadwell, classified information.

He pleaded guilty to one count of unauthorised removal and retention of classified material.

Petraeus is rumoured to be one of many contenders for the highly sought after secretary of state position.

He met with the president-elect on Monday (28 November) to discuss the role. Other candidates reportedly being vetted by Trump are Mitt Romney, Rudy Giuliani and Bob Corker. According to Fox's Bret Baier, former US ambassador to the UN, John Bolton is also back in the running.