WASHINGTON — The collapse of the impressive career of CIA Director David Petraeus was triggered when a woman he was having an affair with sent threatening e-mails to another woman close to him, according to three senior law enforcement officials with knowledge of the episode.
The recipient of the e-mails was so frightened that she went to the FBI for protection and help tracking down the sender, according to the officials. The FBI investigation traced the threats to Paula Broadwell, a former military officer and a Petraeus biographer, and uncovered explicit e-mails between Broadwell and Petraeus, the officials said.
Comments
If more pols and Washington insiders could be shamed into resignation over an extramarital affair, then we would have a better government.
Gee, that's an interesting theory that sexual monogamy leads to better governing (can I assume that masturbation is assumed to be included)? Hey, perhaps that's why George W. Bush did so well compared to Bill Clinton!
Someone noted previously in a comment that the title of her book sounds like a porn movie, "All In: The Education of General David Petraeus". I don't think that is an accident. I think she knew that it was quite likely the affair would eventually come to light. Actually, with her harrassing emails she herself caused that to happen. I think she was thinking (perhaps unconsciously, perhaps consciously) that the title would be perfect to gain lots of attention (including money) after the facts came out.
A major mistake General Petraeus made, but to resign no...look at Pres. Clinton...sex in the oval office and now every school kid 12yrs & up think it is okay just follow the president actions.
Same with Eisenhower, the god of the "greatest generation", who had a wartime affair with Kay Somersby. While that maight not have been well-known while he was President (or general), he certainly survived it, huh? Petraeus had not been CIA director for very long (fifteen months or so), so it was probably better for him to resign and be replaced quickly, to avoid the distraction of a two family scandal, with possible divorce actions in the future.
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I'm curious about the other other woman; she must be someone in power in order for the FBI to investigate e-mail threats.
It takes two to tango. Let's not presume that Petraeus, a dynamic, high-ego guy, was not exactly passive in this affair. In fact, for all we know, HE may have initiated it, taking advantage of Broadwell's crush on him. In any case, they've both screwed up their families and their careers.
Notice that the latest news is coming from the Washington Post, and NOT from the Associated Press. The AP knows more about this affair than they are telling the public.
Ha-ha-ha! Hilarious post, absolutely hilarious!
They say she couldn't even type and it was an oral history.