CIA Chief Petraeus Resigns Over Extra-Marital Affair

By Jeralyn, Section Obama Administration
Posted on Fri Nov 09, 2012 at 07:30:59 PM EST
Tags: CIA, David Petraeus (all tags)

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CIA Director David Petraeus has resigned after the FBI (apparently inadvertently) discovered he is engaged in an extra-marital affair. From his resignation letter:

“After being married for over 37 years, I showed extremely poor judgment by engaging in an extramarital affair,” Mr. Petraeus said in his statement, expressing regret for his abrupt departure. “Such behavior is unacceptable, both as a husband and as the leader of an organization such as ours. This afternoon, the president graciously accepted my resignation.”

Why does an extra-marital affair compromise his position as CIA Director?

By acknowledging an extramarital affair, Mr. Petraeus, 60, was confronting a sensitive issue for a spy chief. Intelligence agencies are often concerned about the possibility that agents who engage in such behavior could be blackmailed for information.

Doesn't sound like much of a reason to me. Is this really about his affair? [More...]

Petraeus was scheduled to testify at a closed senate panel hearing on Benghazi, Libya next week. Now, Michael Morrell will testify instead. Petraeus was "conspicuously absent" when the bodies of Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans arrived at Andrews Air Force Base. Conspiracy theorists are obviously going to have a field day with Petraeus' resignation.

Update: Looks like the affair was with his biographer, Paula Broadwell, who was under investigation by the FBI for allegedly attempting to access Petraeus' e-mail. She is married to a radiologist and has two children.

Did Petraeus volunteer the affair to the FBI to clear her, telling them he voluntarily shared his emails with her? Maybe it's just Chivalry 101?

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CIA Chief Petraeus Resigns Over Extra-Marital Affair | 83 comments (83 topical)

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FWIW Opinion posted on TPM (5.00 / 1) (#1)
by MO Blue on Fri Nov 09, 2012 at 07:50:58 PM EST

I'm a federal employment lawyer who has done a good amount of security clearance work. Petreaus simply could not continue as CIA Director. Even if they eventually found that he was not at risk for facing what is called "duress" in security clearance law, his security clearance would be immediately suspended pending investigation. Indeed, I have no doubt that his clearance has already been suspended and an investigation will happen to find out if any loss of information occurred. There is no way that he could continue. link

: That is true from what I have seen (none / 0) (#3)
by ruffian on Fri Nov 09, 2012 at 07:54:54 PM EST

If the FBI is already investigating his computer his clearance is probably in abeyance.

Just saw Joe Sestak go on about how (5.00 / 1) (#2)
by ruffian on Fri Nov 09, 2012 at 07:52:32 PM EST

Petraeus had to resign because not being able to be trusted in his personal life meant he can't be trusted in his professional life,etc, and such an honorable thing he did resigning.

Seems to me he is resigning because he got caught , not out of some sense that he had done a wrong thing. If he had been honorable he would have quit after the affair started, or not had the affair at all.

Will be really interesting to see a time line on this whole thing. I think he might have resigned now for fear it somehow would come up when he testified before Congress about Benghazi. If he was not directly involved in Benghazi decisions, Morrell can testify just as well about what the CIA did.

Was Petreaus' spouse required to (none / 0) (#4)
by oculus on Fri Nov 09, 2012 at 08:04:53 PM EST

have a security clearance as well?

John le Carre's next novel is writing itself even as I type.


: That would not be normal. She has no (5.00 / 1) (#8)
by ruffian on Fri Nov 09, 2012 at 08:14:59 PM EST

need to have access to secure information. He would be required to shield the information. Rules for the rest of us are that certain levels of classified information on computers can only be viewed in special facilities, even if the people are cleared, to protect from cyber-sneaking. I can't believe he is allowed to take his laptop into his home unless he has a safe room there.

Shade's of John Edwards' (5.00 / 1) (#5)
by oculus on Fri Nov 09, 2012 at 08:06:34 PM EST

"videographer." See photo with biographer looking adoringly at The General.

I had that exact thought. (none / 0) (#7)
by Angel on Fri Nov 09, 2012 at 08:07:56 PM EST

Poor ba$tard. The guy spent months (none / 0) (#34)
by Mr Natural on Sat Nov 10, 2012 at 07:37:59 AM EST

with this woman, spilling his life story, talking about himself,(doubtless his favorite subject). The odds that he wouldn't have fallen for her were near zero.


: They've known each other (none / 0) (#38)
by Militarytracy on Sat Nov 10, 2012 at 08:36:19 AM EST

For a long time.

"All In" (5.00 / 1) (#6)
by Angel on Fri Nov 09, 2012 at 08:07:10 PM EST

I'm laughing at the book's title now that the affair has been revealed.

And the reports all say (5.00 / 2) (#9)
by ruffian on Fri Nov 09, 2012 at 08:16:22 PM EST

she was "embedded" with him in Afghanistan.


: The jokes will write themselves. (none / 0) (#10)
by Angel on Fri Nov 09, 2012 at 08:25:05 PM EST

OMG, the jokes are writing themselves... (none / 0) (#11)
by Anne on Fri Nov 09, 2012 at 08:27:54 PM EST

and now I'm laughing, too.

The photos of his biographer looking all moony-eyed at him make me cringe.

God, men are stupid sometimes.


And women. (5.00 / 2) (#13)
by oculus on Fri Nov 09, 2012 at 08:34:45 PM EST

Yep, they are...she's got a husband, (5.00 / 2) (#14)
by Anne on Fri Nov 09, 2012 at 08:43:13 PM EST

at least for now, and 2 young boys, and I'm sad for all of them.

I think when someone is the head of the CIA, though, what Petraeus did was in a special category of dumb.


: right up there (none / 0) (#22)
by NYShooter on Fri Nov 09, 2012 at 11:47:20 PM EST

with Bubba.

yes women too (none / 0) (#33)
by TeresaInPa on Sat Nov 10, 2012 at 07:31:49 AM EST

men get stupid with their mechanical parts and women get stupid with their feelings. Of course that is a gross over simplification. I think we just don't have much honor anymore.


You're so right, Anne. (5.00 / 1) (#21)
by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Nov 09, 2012 at 11:06:20 PM EST

When it comes to sex, we can be extraordinarily stupid. Seeing these thing happen, I'm always reminded of Teddy (Gene Wilder) trapped on that building ledge at the end of "The Woman in Red," mulling over his untenable situation:

"What the hell am I doing? I have a wonderful wife and beautiful family, and yet I'm about throw all that away. And for what -- a piece of a$$?"

I daresay that's a question more than a few of us should ask of ourselves when similarly contemplating going astray.


: The percentage of Americans who stray (none / 0) (#35)
by Mr Natural on Sat Nov 10, 2012 at 07:40:15 AM EST

is extraordinarily high. Maybe it's time to ask ourselves why - and maybe, just maybe, it's time to redefine our norms.

Before you guys (5.00 / 1) (#12)
by CoralGables on Fri Nov 09, 2012 at 08:32:23 PM EST

get into the jokes, let's remember she has a husband and two sons that are soon to be dragged into the mud through no fault of their own.

Both of them have spouses and children. (5.00 / 3) (#23)
by caseyOR on Fri Nov 09, 2012 at 11:50:46 PM EST

Granted, Petraeus' kids are grown, but it will still be unpleasant for them.

His wife Holly is a D.C. figure in her own right. While David was off in war zones for years she was working to help military families. She has been especially active in trying to keep military families from getting screwed where credit is concerned. She used to work for the Council of Better Business Bureaus as the head of a program dealing with credit fraud and the military. She is now an assistant director at the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau.

Both Broadwell and Petraeus showed the usual disregard for spouses and children.


There's really nothing funny about it, (none / 0) (#15)
by Anne on Fri Nov 09, 2012 at 08:49:56 PM EST

you're right - even if there has been a snicker or two over the book title and the whole "embedding" thing. But you know what the late-night comics are going to do with this, don't you? What do they care?

What's really sad is that this is going to play out in the bright lights of non-stop media coverage, and the real victims are going to be those kids and the spouses.


Maybe Petraeus and Broadwell (5.00 / 4) (#16)
by Zorba on Fri Nov 09, 2012 at 08:56:14 PM EST

should have thought of their spouses and kids before they started scr*wing around. But they never do, do they?


"But they never do, do they?" (5.00 / 1) (#24)
by NYShooter on Sat Nov 10, 2012 at 12:13:02 AM EST

There are many facets of this to be sad about. I mean, Love does happen, there's nothing evil about that.

But, what has me so disheartened is America's seeming extinction of Honor in our highest officials. And, please do me a favor and save your cynical smirks and snarks. (not you, Babycakes Zorba, you know that.)I've lived long enough to remember when "everyone didn't do it."

He fell in love....it happens. Immediately, a decision had to be made, break it off....or resign. Why was that impossible to do?

This self serving, narcissist, social media age is exactly what America should not be. Those sworn to work for our interests commit treason as easily as they breathe, that is, if you define treason as working in direct violation of their oaths of office. The most fortunate of us don't just look the other way at the suffering they cause on a daily basis, they gain stature and purpose from their earned sadism. Just ask their priests.

So much more I want to say....no strength to push the buttons.


: I think it more likely that there was (5.00 / 1) (#39)
by Anne on Sat Nov 10, 2012 at 08:37:53 AM EST

more than a little bit of people being in love with themselves, and a fair amount of being jazzed up by their proximity to power - not to mention the overestimation of their own importance - that played roles in this mess.
They never think they're going to get caught. No one will guess that there's something going on. Shoot, is there anyone that looks at some of the photos of these two and doesn't suspect there's some hanky-panky going on?
Maybe Petraeus did fall in love - maybe Broadwell did, too. I guess it happens. But there are better ways to handle it than just to indulge one's desires without considering the consequences.
And as much access as Broadwell had to Petraeus - and I hate to go all Hollywood-spy-movie here - who's to say Broadwell was who and what she claimed to be, and not someone with a bigger and more damaging agenda? That's why Petraeus had to go, not because he forgot to keep his pants zipped, but because he put information and access to the country's secrets secondary to his own desires.

: fell in love? (none / 0) (#31)
by TeresaInPa on Sat Nov 10, 2012 at 07:01:02 AM EST

what makes you so sure of that? I remember when people were so sure that Clinton was in love with Monica and that after he was out of office he would divorce Hillary and he and Monica would be together. They could not believe it was just lust or that he and Hillary loved each other.
When did Petreaus say he was in love with this woman?

: I reckon that's a mighty tall horse you got there (none / 0) (#36)
by Rojas on Sat Nov 10, 2012 at 08:23:35 AM EST

no wonder your exhausted.

: I'm with you (none / 0) (#40)
by Militarytracy on Sat Nov 10, 2012 at 08:43:33 AM EST

They are both overachievers, both West Point graduates, both are students of and for life and into extreme physical fitness, both love intellectual conversation, it wasn't hard at all to figure out who the other woman was. I feel horrible for both of them and their families and sometimes in life stuff like this happens. It isn't supposed to though, and they both violated their own code of ethics and they know it and it shows more with them than most other publicly made affair participants. It is done now though, can't undo it and now everyone they are attached to will have to deal with what went down.
You won't see these two parading themselves around in the limelight of this.

Selfishness (none / 0) (#82)
by Amiss on Mon Nov 12, 2012 at 02:20:42 AM EST

pure and simple.


: You also have to call (none / 0) (#83)
by Amiss on Mon Nov 12, 2012 at 03:06:11 AM EST

into question his judgement. Not just on the affair, but on every decision he has made during his career.

Could the timing be more awful? (5.00 / 1) (#19)
by vicndabx on Fri Nov 09, 2012 at 09:17:57 PM EST

I guess it's better to um, er, get it out now.

From the WAPO: (5.00 / 4) (#26)
by shoephone on Sat Nov 10, 2012 at 12:53:44 AM EST

Current and former U.S. military officials said suspicions of infidelities had followed Petraeus for several years.

"After 37 years of marriage" my a$$. Another ambitious egotist. Taking risks all the way up the ladder.

More about the book (5.00 / 1) (#27)
by MO Blue on Sat Nov 10, 2012 at 03:26:06 AM EST

Broadwell is the author, with Vernon Loeb, of All In: The Education of General David Petraeus, a glowing 400-page biography of Petraeus, for which she was granted almost total access. After it was published in January, some said it read more like a love letter to the general than a biography. In a review for Rolling Stone, Michael Hastings called the book "a work of fan fiction so fawning that not even Max Boot--a Petraeus buddy and Pentagon sock puppet--could bring himself to rave about it." link

It is impossible to be in a lengthy marriage... (5.00 / 3) (#57)
by Dadler on Sat Nov 10, 2012 at 02:36:55 PM EST

...and not have to deal with other people coming into your lives, bringing with them feelings and attractions and conflicts. Impossible. I don't know how people get married and ever expect to escape the ever present chance and lure of other people. Gotta talk about it, gotta use it, gotta acknowledge other people are an inevitable part of every aspect of life. Denial and repression are tough cookies, better to acknowledge it and yap it out creatively. (Could be, however, that Petraeus, like most people, was unhappily married to a person who was, in vital respects, a stranger to him, as he was to her, but was just doing his duty all those years. Who the F knows.)

What I do know is that I have been with the same woman for twenty years, and though I'm sure much of it has to do with coming from a series of broken homes as a kid (having seen adults marry, have affairs, divorce, remarry, split, remarry), I have always known that to be married to another person is to accept there are some conversations couples must never stop having. The conflict between love and lust, the overlapping of them, what catches your eye, all of it, to me, you gotta talk it all out, keep it in the glorious light, in order to disempower it. Whether you have kids or not, you still have that Id, that caveman or cavewoman brain that still operates deep in your skull -- and guides your desires and drives more than we ever accept. IOW, it's very hard for ANYone, no matter who they are, to be desired by someone they LIKE being desired by, and to say no. It is wired into our brains to be difficult. It's how our species evolved and continues to. If life were easy, well, you know the rest.

Petraeus' former spokesman (5.00 / 1) (#73)
by oculus on Sun Nov 11, 2012 at 07:03:18 AM EST

speaks again:

He decided he needed to come clean with the American people," said Steve Boylan, a retired army officer and former Petraeus spokesman who talked with him Saturday.

In a phone call, Petraeus lamented the damage he'd done to his "wonderful family" and the hurt he'd caused his wife, Boylan said. Petraeus has been married for 38 years to Holly Petraeus.

"He screwed up, he knows he screwed up, now he's got to try to get past this with his family and heal," said Boylan.
(Italics added.)

I find it sad to read things from (none / 0) (#76)
by Militarytracy on Sun Nov 11, 2012 at 09:20:31 AM EST

leftwing Petraeus haters. He was considered a moderating influence on the CIA drone program, pissed some people off. I think he had seen in the past though where the CIA went easily to a drone attack and then created more problems for the world and the soldiers on the ground to suck up. He upset some people at the CIA because he had many requirements to be met before a drone could be used.

Who knows how the next guy will feel about it all? I love Joe Biden, but Joe Biden smiles when he talks about droning all of them and no boots on the ground to even figure out what he we really did and what was accomplished by it. David Petraeus has always been a bear about creating collateral damage and now his voice is lost.

My spouse is really pissed at him today. But he has always embraced the Petraeus leadership ideals and his views on dealing with insurgency. Among officers my husband's views are not the majority, so losing those voices really pisses him off. That email from the scorned Paula had better have been a real threatening national scandal scorcher or my husband thinks they should have fought for Petraeus to stay.

And if the Broadwell threats were really that horrible, WTF Paula? Have you lost your God Damned mind?


Isn't she (none / 0) (#78)
by CoralGables on Sun Nov 11, 2012 at 09:38:52 AM EST

still a Major in the reserves? If so, I don't think there is anyway he could stay on.


: Spouse says that (none / 0) (#79)
by Militarytracy on Sun Nov 11, 2012 at 10:10:50 AM EST

She would only be under the UCMJ in this particular instance when she was activated. I don't think she was activated and sleeping with him but I could be wrong. She would have to be currently representing the United States in active duty uniform though before she is held THAT accountable for destroying the command environment and troop morale through institutional incest.

A congressman interviewed (none / 0) (#17)
by Towanda on Fri Nov 09, 2012 at 09:12:26 PM EST

about the Benghazi hearings (I didn't catch his name; sorry) is livid about Petraeus not being there and said that his resignation is no reason -- he still is a citizen called before Congress, and he has information that Congress wants, said the guy.

Makes sense, actually -- if Petraus was involved in the decisions about Benghazi (and if he wasn't, why not? was he in a hotel room, under the desk? ewww).

As innumerable talking heads (5.00 / 2) (#18)
by Zorba on Fri Nov 09, 2012 at 09:16:37 PM EST

on all the news shows have pointed out ad nauseum, Congress has subpoena power. If they want to talk to Petraeus, then instead of getting livid, foaming at the mouth, and posturing for the TV cameras, they should subpoena him.


: Yes, that's what he said (none / 0) (#20)
by Towanda on Fri Nov 09, 2012 at 10:38:33 PM EST

and sorry that I omitted the obvious here.

Paula Broadwell's young enough to be his daughter! (none / 0) (#25)
by Dan the Man on Sat Nov 10, 2012 at 12:36:00 AM EST

Not that it really matters, but people kept on saying that about Clinton's affair with Lewinsky.

For (none / 0) (#28)
by lentinel on Sat Nov 10, 2012 at 04:06:20 AM EST

me, Petraeus was yet another most unwelcome hangover from the G.W. Bush administration, so I will not be unhappy to see him pack his bags.

I cannot fathom why an extra-marital affair would be a reason for his departure. Are we that Puritan?

The "blackmail" angle makes no sense since he acknowledged his activities.

In any case, I hope this is a harbinger of some overdue housecleaning by the Obama administration of the odious presence of GW Bush's legacy.

A security lapse?? (none / 0) (#32)
by ding7777 on Sat Nov 10, 2012 at 07:17:24 AM EST

Paula Broadwell is under FBI investigation over access to his email

: The (none / 0) (#37)
by lentinel on Sat Nov 10, 2012 at 08:25:43 AM EST

story is unclear to me about that.
Did he give her access? Mega stupid. Almost incredible.
Did she try to access his email without permission? Mega stupid. Almost incredible.
I don't know why, but it strikes me funny that the FBI is investigating this breach of CIA security.
I'm so tired of all this security - national security - homeland security - financial securities - secure passwords - and for some reason, none of this makes me feel the least bit secure.

The CIA director, like Caeser's wife... (none / 0) (#29)
by unitron on Sat Nov 10, 2012 at 04:36:28 AM EST

...has to be above reproach.

If you say "well if he gets caught he'll admit it so he can't be blackmailed or extorted, so no security problem", is that true for those one rung down on the ladder as well? And those just below that level?

Even if it's not a security thing, does a President really need any of his people dominating news cycles for having affairs?

: Your last question is key (none / 0) (#30)
by ruffian on Sat Nov 10, 2012 at 05:58:22 AM EST

I think Obama has a pretty low tolerance for distractions, especially non work related ones. They don't call him No Drama Obama for nothing. It does mean he loses some people he would like to have on the team, but in the end no one is irreplaceable.

Don't have sexual relations with a subordinate. (none / 0) (#41)
by jeffinalabama on Sat Nov 10, 2012 at 09:48:19 AM EST

Simple as that. He's not the first and won't be the last officer to lose his job because of fraternization. Chain of command doesn't matter when both are married, either. But to a general, everyone's a subordinate. Go run another 8 miles.

Is a woman who is no (none / 0) (#42)
by oculus on Sat Nov 10, 2012 at 10:13:23 AM EST

longer in the military deemed a subordinate?


Once you have gone through (none / 0) (#43)
by Militarytracy on Sat Nov 10, 2012 at 10:24:33 AM EST

West Point I think you are expected by others who share the experience to live by the code. If you don't, well those that do don't ever hold you in high regard. You were honored with the opportunity and the education. I would say they are subordinates and joint violators and jointly fallen. She was highly regarded, educated and educator, well spoken.


The Army has some (5.00 / 1) (#44)
by jeffinalabama on Sat Nov 10, 2012 at 10:50:57 AM EST

Victorian social codes concerning sexual relationships for and between officers. But those codes exist for a reason. They serve a purpose, so I don't propose changing them to aid even a great commander like Petraus.


So why wasn't Ike disciplined (none / 0) (#46)
by brodie on Sat Nov 10, 2012 at 11:06:41 AM EST

for his affair in WW2 w/subordinate aide Kay Summersby? His boss George Marshall was aware of it and Ike held a top command position in Europe at the time. But all Marshall did was threaten him with action if he went ahead, allegedly, with his plan to divorce Mamie and marry Kay.

Maybe that was sufficient punishment? Or maybe Ike was too important to the war effort and had to be handled differently?


I don't think anybody who (none / 0) (#47)
by Militarytracy on Sat Nov 10, 2012 at 11:14:51 AM EST

Lives and must function highly in that environment does Jeff.


Isn't adultery (none / 0) (#55)
by Makarov on Sat Nov 10, 2012 at 02:08:57 PM EST

a violation of the UCMJ?

From what I'm piecing together, it appears the affair began while Petraeus was in Afghanistan. I wonder if he'll face reduction in rank and/or disciplinary action for his affair.

The same could be true of Broadwell unless she already left the service, which appears likely. I'm also unsure if an officer can face discipline after leaving the military but without resigning her commission.


: Violation? Yes. (none / 0) (#58)
by jeffinalabama on Sat Nov 10, 2012 at 03:04:13 PM EST

Also, both could face Article 32 hearings. Retired and discharged folks still face the UCMJ for their actions.

: She was in for 15 years (none / 0) (#72)
by Militarytracy on Sun Nov 11, 2012 at 06:54:36 AM EST

But she is out, she does a lot of teaching though. She loses face at West Point. I think she teaches classes there. I have heard two different stories of when the affair started. One story claimed the affair started in Afghanistan and one claimed the affair started after he became CIA director.
Do any of the big guys ever get fully charged for having an affair? IMO opinion it usually only destroys what was left of their career advancement. He is retired now so they won't reduce his rank. I don't think they would have reduced his rank if he was currently active unless the relationship had aspects that weren't consensual and he was found guilty of that.

Hey if it's a stark choice (none / 0) (#45)
by brodie on Sat Nov 10, 2012 at 10:56:12 AM EST

between running 8 miles and hooking up with a young woman with her looks ... well I might try to avoid the 8 miles.

Just saying a lot of people don't have the ability, the self discipline to resist temptation. And we don't know the state of his marriage. But on this pure adultery issue I can sympathize even as he should have properly disengaged first with the spouse before heading down this path.

The other matter of letting her get too close to classified info, or possibly letting her see it, that's less excusable for someone in his sensitive position. O acted properly in letting him go from my understanding of the story. If he hadn't acted, and quickly, we would be having a major GOP-MSM absolute firestorm right now possibly leading to You Know What in the House.


More than meets the eye here (none / 0) (#48)
by kdm251 on Sat Nov 10, 2012 at 11:27:24 AM EST

I know a lot of "experts" are saying the CIA has zero tolerance for extra marital affairs but it seems like there might be more given it came to light as a result of a criminal investigation.

Oh well, (none / 0) (#49)
by desertswine on Sat Nov 10, 2012 at 12:18:51 PM EST

I guess it was fun.

Latest from NYTimes. (none / 0) (#50)
by Angel on Sat Nov 10, 2012 at 01:34:36 PM EST

Supposedly Broadwell was sending harassing emails to his friends. Speculation is also that this letter seeking advice (second link) was written by her husband.

NYTimes link: http://tinyurl.com/az2pj7s

Letter link: http://tinyurl.com/au5al8p

Female friends? (none / 0) (#51)
by kdm251 on Sat Nov 10, 2012 at 01:41:53 PM EST

The daily beast article implies that Broadwell was sending letters to female friends, maybe she suspected him of infidelity to her. I have a feeling this is going to be worthy of inside addition in no time.

And I am starting to think it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy


What I find interesting in the letter to the (none / 0) (#52)
by Angel on Sat Nov 10, 2012 at 01:54:03 PM EST

NY Times ethicist. I remember reading it when it was first published but thought nothing of it other than it was an interesting situation. Funny that people who might be 'in the know' supposedly thought the letter might be from Broadwell's husband. That would mean people already knew of the affair and were talking about it, so it wasn't any big secret in some quarters.


Link to Wash Post article wherein it says (none / 0) (#54)
by Angel on Sat Nov 10, 2012 at 02:04:42 PM EST

the person receiving the harassing emails was another woman, and supposedly a rival for his interest. http://tinyurl.com/ObjectOfEmails


OMG how bad would an email (5.00 / 2) (#64)
by ruffian on Sat Nov 10, 2012 at 04:53:41 PM EST

from a rival woman have to be before you reported it to the FBI? Must have been some pretty scary stuff.


Exactly. I'd love to read them. :) (none / 0) (#66)
by Angel on Sat Nov 10, 2012 at 04:59:28 PM EST

Weird a la Fatal Attraction.


They were sent from patreuses email account (none / 0) (#67)
by kdm251 on Sat Nov 10, 2012 at 05:29:11 PM EST

If I got threatening emails from the director of the CIA I would probably be concerned as well.


The article at the link didn't say (none / 0) (#70)
by ruffian on Sun Nov 11, 2012 at 06:13:24 AM EST

they came from his account. It said they tracked down the sender - Broadwell - and in looking at her other emails found the link to Petraeus. At least that was the impression I go...will look again.


: Never mind, I did not see before that (none / 0) (#71)
by ruffian on Sun Nov 11, 2012 at 06:18:20 AM EST

the article had multiple pages. Holy Sh#@

Tiger woods (none / 0) (#56)
by kdm251 on Sat Nov 10, 2012 at 02:30:11 PM EST

This is starting to seem liike tiger woods.


Broadwell: harasser (none / 0) (#59)
by shoephone on Sat Nov 10, 2012 at 03:49:57 PM EST

If this is true, then Broadwell could be charged with harassment. Making threats -- whether in person, by mail, by email, or over the phone -- is a felony.


Must be bored today (5.00 / 1) (#60)
by kdm251 on Sat Nov 10, 2012 at 04:05:00 PM EST

And I attempted to find Broadwells triathlon results and could only find results for one Olympic distance triathlon in Colorado, and eight minute per mile average ten k for someone named Paula Broadwell.

I am thinking she may turn out to be a combination of Riell hunter and Paul Ryan.

The threatening nature of the emails might explain how the FBI got involved


Race results (none / 0) (#65)
by kdm251 on Sat Nov 10, 2012 at 04:58:49 PM EST

Because I know you are all as bored as I am race results:
http://athlinks.com/claimworksheet.aspx?search=athlete&term=paula%20broadwell


This actually shows her (5.00 / 1) (#77)
by CoralGables on Sun Nov 11, 2012 at 09:36:54 AM EST

as a very good runner.

She won her age group in a 15k at age 40 in Charlotte in 2012.

Finished 3rd in her age group in the Thunder Road half marathon at age 39 in 2011.

Finished 4th in her age group in the Lungstrong 5K at age 35 in 2008.

I know Paul Ryan's running and Paul Ryan is no Paula Broadwell. She'd run his ass right off the road.


She could beat Paul Ryan but (none / 0) (#80)
by kdm251 on Sun Nov 11, 2012 at 01:05:24 PM EST

She claimed to have done training runs with with the general at six minutes miles, and I have a feeling she was exaggerating there


: That I would agree (none / 0) (#81)
by CoralGables on Sun Nov 11, 2012 at 01:57:14 PM EST

I doubt either could turn in a 6 minute mile as part of e lengthy run.

Btw (none / 0) (#61)
by kdm251 on Sat Nov 10, 2012 at 04:05:49 PM EST

I haven't forgotten we have a ten dollar bet due in 2016


I've put my $10 in escrow... (none / 0) (#68)
by shoephone on Sat Nov 10, 2012 at 06:04:23 PM EST

: I invested mine with Bain capital (5.00 / 1) (#69)
by kdm251 on Sat Nov 10, 2012 at 06:24:10 PM EST

I only invested one dollar but as soon as they are done off shoring the jeep plant it will easily be worth ten

The recipient of the harassing emails got the (none / 0) (#62)
by Angel on Sat Nov 10, 2012 at 04:27:40 PM EST

FBI involved because she was so frightened. She's liable to lose not only her husband and her kids, her reputation, but her job as well. How stupid.


: Weird (none / 0) (#63)
by kdm251 on Sat Nov 10, 2012 at 04:39:57 PM EST

Both patreus and Broadwell held themselves out as larger than life figures and in the end I think they were both kind of ordinary people. Although now they are starting to resemble the characters in fatal attraction.

Affairs are funny that way (none / 0) (#53)
by kdm251 on Sat Nov 10, 2012 at 02:00:36 PM EST

Over the years I have worked with a fair number of people that think they are being discreet about a extra marital romance but it is almost common knowledge in the office.

Also, who can forget bill Owens?

Petraeus' former spokesman (none / 0) (#74)
by oculus on Sun Nov 11, 2012 at 07:03:19 AM EST

: Sorry. Just wait 'til my (none / 0) (#75)
by oculus on Sun Nov 11, 2012 at 07:05:06 AM EST

iPad mini arrives!