Paula Broadwell Regrets Damage Caused By Petraeus Affair, Friend Says
Paula Broadwell, the author who had an extramarital affair with the former CIA director, "deeply regrets the damage" the scandal brought upon her family, according to a family friend.
The source, who preferred to stay anonymous because he was not authorized to speak on the matter, told ABC News that Broadwell is also upset that the scandal led to David Petraeus having to resign as CIA director.
Adultery is punishable under Article 134 of The Uniform Code of Military Justice, with "a maximum punishment of dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances and confinement for one year," according to The Huffington Post. Petraeus told friends the affair began in August of 2011 after he left the army.
Broadwell is married and has two children, and Petraeus and his wife have been married for 38 years and also have two children.
Broadwell, her husband Scott, and their two sons spent time at her brother's home in Washington, D.C. after news of her extramarital affair broke on Nov. 9. They drove back to their home in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, according to the friend, and the 40-year-old is now trying to "focus on her family."
Broadwell wrote the biography on Gen. Petraeus, "All In: he Education of General David Petraeus." She spent much time with Petraeus collecting information for her book and was even with him in Afghanistan, where he was a commander of the U.S. forces before being replaced by Gen. John Allen.
Allen is the newest figure involved in the scandal, after an FBI investigation revealed that he was engaged in "inappropriate communications" with the woman Broadwell was sending disturbing emails too.
Petraeus appeared before the Senate and House intelligence committees Friday to talk about his knowledge of the Benghazi, Sept. 11 attack in the U.S consulate. He expressed regret for his affair with Broadwell during his opening statements, but the committee was more interested in what he had to say about his trip to Libya in the days following the killings, according to ABC.
