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Jeff Willhelm / The Charlotte Observer
Paula Broadwell's husband, Scott, drops a grocery bag while unloading their car at their Charlotte home, on Sunday, Nov. 18.
Paula Broadwell, the author believed to have had an affair with then-CIA Director David Petraeus, has returned to her Charlotte, N.C., home a week and a half after news of the scandal prompted Petraeus to resign his post.
Broadwell, her husband, Scott, and their two young sons were given a warm welcome by dozens of their closest friends and neighbors in the Dilworth neighborhood of Charlotte early Sunday evening, representatives of the family told NBC News.
Scott and Paula Broadwell had been in Washington, D.C., since the revelation of Petraeus' extramarital affair gained national attention. Petraeus stepped down as the director of the CIA, admitting to an affair in his resignation letter.
Paula's focus right now is on her family, the Broadwells' representatives said, adding that she and her family are sticking together in this extremely difficult time.
Broadwell, who wrote a biography about Petraeus while he was in command in Afghanistan, had previously stated that the two of them had developed a mentoring relationship. A graduate of West Point, she met Petraeus when she was working on a Ph. D. at Harvard.
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The investigation into the affair began when Jill Kelley, a Tampa socialite and friend of Petraeus, asked another friend, who was an FBI agent, to look into threatening emails she received from an anonymous sender. The FBI traced the emails to Broadwell and uncovered the affair, multiple officials told NBC News.
Jeff Willhelm / The Charlotte Observer
A neighbor welcomes Paula Broadwell's husband, Scott, at their Charlotte home on Sunday, Nov. 18.
FBI agents searched Broadwell's home last week, and with her consent, carried out boxes and computers, which reportedly contained classified documents, officials told NBC News. Shortly after, Broadwell's security clearance with the Pentagon was suspended, officials said.
Last week, the CIA Inspector General launched an investigation into the conduct of Petraeus. Acting CIA Director Michael Morrell ordered the investigation to ensure there was no wrongdoing and that no agency resources were expended improperly by Petraeus.
The CIA informed the House and Senate Intelligence Committees of the investigation on Thursday via letters from the inspector general.
"At the CIA we are constantly reviewing our performance,” an agency spokesperson said. “If there are lessons to be learned from this case we'll use them to improve. But we're not getting ahead of ourselves; an investigation is exploratory and doesn't presuppose any particular outcome."
ISAF via Reuters file
Meet the people who have been pulled into the scandal that caused Gen. David Petraeus to resign.
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Leave a Comment:
Only in America would we applaud this behavior. The husband must be a real TOOL!
Must be a tool? Wow. You are evil. This man just found out the woman he committed to forever just betrayed him and her children. He is probably going through a rough time-cut him a little slack.
People disgust me.
Come on, dawg pound, you're smarter than that. No one is applauding their behavior as much as they are trying to support their friends during what has to be an incredibly tough time for their family.
Don't feed the cowardly trolls. They'll crawl back under their rocks.
Not applauding behavior.. just showing support for a FAMILY that otherwise has been beaten up for the past 2-3 weeks. I applaud the neighbors for caring and offering any support during a very difficult time.
I don't see it as applause. Simply acceptance of people despite their faults and errors in judgement that are overwhelmed by their feelings for someone.
It was a bad choice, but if it only happens once then I think it is acceptable and not cause for someone to be ostracized or refused acceptance,
Abandoning honor, family values and your husband for the cheap thrill of panties down spread eagle and now; the apologies, recommitting, welcome home and putting it all behind, how charming - just because she got caught! If she didn't get caught she would probably still be doubly committed, to both men.
She deserves nothing - no support. That her neighbors and closest friends welcomed her just goes to show how stupid people are. She made this horrible nacissistic decision and caused a lot of problems for a lot of people that have better things to do. Her husband should dump her. I guarantee you there is a book deal already being shopped by her. And as for that socialite witch in Florida - well I hope she gets an STD. She should be so embarrased as to never leave her house again. And that General's poor wife - she'll torture him for his remaining days. Same thing happened to Tiger. Going from sleeping with a couple of dozen women to living with 3 of them that hate him and no chance of any strange or regular for a long time.
Maybe the 'warm welcome' was from lawyer friends who are hoping to cash in on the upcoming divorce. Maybe it was from some psychologists who want to cash in on repairing the marriage. Maybe it was from friends in the book publishing business. You never know.
WOW- I guess only the perfect people reply on here. I get the biggest laugh when all of the holier-than-thou types come on and criticize people who have done something that a large majority of people have also done (including most of the holier-than-thou types) as well. Part of being married a long time involves understanding and realizing that things like this can be gotten over (if the news media ever leaves them alone), and a healthy relationship resumed, but granted it will take some time with the trust issue. She didn't cause "a lot of problems for a lot of people" like some pinheads state, your precious 4-star General Petraus did! I'm sure most of the whiners spouses would dump them if it happened, but that's probably because they have the attitude displayed on here.
I feel so sorry for the Broadwell family, too bad the matriarch is a skank.
Yes, this is America. He'll should patiently drain her hard earned royalties!
Hi People,
Let's not forget that this "woman" got her own self caught by sending anonymous emails to a 'possible' rival.. That is some weird/psycho b.s right there. This chick is a mess,,, she's got some deep-roote issues that have NOT even come to light.
Same goes for that J Kelly person.. self-important, loser!!!
what a mess.....
Hey Bi**h, welcome home....you're not going to do the 16 year old paperboy here are you??? Don't think you would..he's not married yet!
I find it funny that the media always shows pictures of the hot mistresses.
If they showed you pictures of Holly Patraeus you would be a little more sympathetic toward the Generals choice of PT activities
In the picture with Patreus, she does look like she's got some real goodies under the hood...
I can see the General going completely bananas....gettin disarmed in the process... his blood flowing to the wrong head....glad the only "shot" fired in the process were probably a few blank ones....otherwise we would be in a lot of trouble right now
Wow! Can't believe this!
This is "The New Normal" in ethics. Use your sex to advance your career, etc.. It's all "OK" now. Everything is forgiven. Everybody does it. This is the role model of a wife and mother that her sons are going to grow up learning. Whatever happened to shame?
Paula show us your tits. I want to see what was so great about them that US National Security was worth the risk.
Doc, you are too funny! Who's to say their affair is over or that there is a lot more we don't even know about that affects our country? I'm about live and let live but WOW who's running the store at the Pentagon and CIA?
Yeah, I don't see this as an occasion for either a "warm welcome" or a hot leer either. Maybe the media writes it up like that, I dunno. This woman had in her possession a large quantity of classified information that Gen. Petraeus says he did not give her. If he's telling the truth, then she (1) stole it from him or someone else in upper echelons or (2) some other high-ranking official gave it to her. Whichever, there's gonna be even more he!! to pay than watching him resign his position. Neither of them deserve any kind of accolade for their irresponsible behavior.
Hey, let's all go over to the Broadwell place and join in on the Bimbo Welcome! And, make sure you bring the kids so they can get to see a real modern American role model.
Sad situation and all too common. Shame on both Petreus and Broadwell. They knew exactly what they were doing when they did it. As married, committed individuals, they knew exactly what the stakes were. It all goes to character. Period.
Viewing these painful pictures, sadly, Mr. Broadwell does the flipside of 'stand by your man'.
Only in America.....Paula Broadwell commits infidelity and is given a warm welcome back home? Graduating from an US military academy AND completing a PhD at Harvard....she should have known better. If anything, she should have been chastised by the community. Granted, everyone makes mistakes, but this was a mistake that could have definitely been avoided, something she should obviously know. It seems that marriage vows mean absolutely nothing.
When did men become women?
So, Steve, you think you are a prize. Maybe your wife should have an affair. You can't possible measure up to some really buff guys.
Yep, there was a lot of condemnation of people's willingness to forgive.
GeezString: You are so right that " . . . she caused a lot of problems for a lot of people." Of course, HE should be included that statement.
Beyond the obvious people who were affected - the children being the most important - taxpayers should be outraged, too. I left the IG's office at CIA about 15 years, and an investigation like this costs MILLIONS. Personally, I'd rather see that money spent for education or food for hungry kids.
Takes two to do it..and two to agree. Other then that..*someone* was raped then!
FlaNative55 banned, rereg of multiple accounter Hugh Jorgan.
Dawg Pound
You are absolutely correct. Only in America.
A shame and a disgrace to her husband and their two sons.
And the neighbors applaud her adulterous affair and her return home?
They need counseling also.
Paula's husband probably knew about the affair long before the scandal was in the news. Who would believe that her husband didn't know what she was up to when she went out of town?
Bet She was welcomed by many of the men folk. I figure It's a different proposition with their wives though.
West Point Grad, PhD candidate, Top Secret Security Clearance.
The name's Broadwell. Paula Broadwell.
Its all just part of her job. The big question? Who is she working for? Stay tuned...
This has several of the earmarks of the early James Bond films: a female protagonist with a Bond girl like name (Broadwell), spooks, people using sex to gain control of the behavior of others, high profile characters, etc.. But in the films Bond never torched families with children. Her husband has to realize that she has proven that her career advancement is more important to her than marital sexual fidelity or her children and she can not be trusted. Counseling isn't going to change her value system. He needs to talk to his lawyer about how to be sure he is positioned to play the major role in the children's lives so they don't grow up with her selfish values. These neighbors have misplaced sympathies. They should be consoling the children not Paula Broadwell.
Scott, make her sleep in the pool house for the winter and don't buy into that boo hoo melarkey, either.
There's a story behind this story. I'll wait 'til all the facts come out, if they ever do.
You'd have or host a welcome home party with your closest friends and family? Are these people out of touch, or what? Her affair was a natural disaster or something like that, where they are both innocent victims, being warmly welcomed home after a stay in the hospital? Gives new meaning to the definition of attention whore.
It always amazes me what ideas people come up with when they fail to understand something they read. At no point in the article did it even imply that there was a "party" or a get-together that was intentionally orchestrated by the Broadwell family. From what we can deduce from the picture, neighbors and friends came to their door to greet them and lend support. So, where did the idea of an intentional party/get-together come from?
Alex- I think the headline words "warm welcome on return home" does carry a connotation of celebration, as if a hero has returned from battle. Personally, I think this issue begs to be ignored. Throughout this sordid event I have tried to figure out how this woman had time for all of the international travel, writing, running, educational pursuits, parenting, book promotion and romancing she managed to fit into her life. Turning off the spotlight and leaving her alone with her thoughts and her family, is probably a better outcome than she deserves, but there are innocent children to be considered.
OK, I understand showing compassion & sympathy but...
had me chocking and laughing. Innocent? Has the morals in to US sunken that low? Yes, there are three innocent people in that family (the husband and the two sons).
In no way in h3!! is she innocent. She betrayed her husband and family. In this world there are some things you can never apologize or take back. Trust is one of them.
Julie, I completely agree. She is no innocent. Not only betraying her own family & her lovers family while threatening yet another person to stay away from her married fella - juvenile at best. But in no way does the term innocent apply to her or her massive ego.
hope this dosn't mean another book or tv show....
Keep in mind "warm welcome" are NBC's words.
@Julie,
You missed the question mark at the end of what I asked, as in, that was being asked with a degree of incredulity (translated: you have got to be kidding me).
It only shows a picture of her husband. It is probably just him returning home and the neighbors are showing support for him which they should. Paula Broadwell is suffering the consequences of her action. I have a similar situation happen to me twice but the mistresses harassed me, the wife, when my husband dumped them. There are a lot of psychotic women in this world who think that if a men cheats with them, they are special. No, they are not special, it is just the thrill and excitement of something new and dangerous. It eventually gets old and boring and the men move on to newer pastures.
I imagine it was mostly for him the husband and the kids. Sounds like they just missed some school. I think she is just a filthy whore, only for the fact that those kids are going to hear about this later and not understand it. I guess he is just trying to hang in there for those kids and if that is the case I applaud him. I am sure there are lots of people out there that hung in there "for the kids". The rest of you live in your mothers basement and don't know what you are talking about anyway.
Scott has chosen to stand by his wife... hmm.
I wish them both the best of luck and hope they can work it out.
Absolutely! Scott should wait for the book deals, the miniseries, and the movie rights. Scott gets 50% and possibly more going forward.
Yup, he deserves to reap the benefits before he divorces her and gets custody of his kids.
I didn't even think about that.
Her husband is a genius if he's simply waiting to milk whatever money out of her from this scandal before dropping her on the curb.
No one can accuse her of not going straight to the top to get what she wanted.
She ran it straight up General Petraeous's (sp?) flagpole.
I speak from experience. The marriage is broken and can never be repaired, it is one thing when a partner cheats and a few people knew but this is different. The whole world know their business and this will haunt them forever, unless they change their names legally, this will stay with them and their children forever. For the sake of their child, if they stay together, they really should change their last name and moved to a different town.
Going with the photo of the dropped groceries was a very, very cheap tabloid-like decision.
Completely agree Mark. Well put
Thanks. You cant look at the pic and not feel sorry for the guy. I agree with your post at the top of the comments. If you look at the photo carefully there are more things wrong with it and it never should have been published.
agreed, tabloid journalism at its best
poor dude. who hasn't done that? but when we do it the worst case scenario is the wife calling us clumsy. this poor guy is coast to coast.
Yes, the photo is in bad taste but hopefully he can put that aside. Kudos to his neighbors for their support.
That's right - no crying over spilt milk.
They should blur the liscense plate numbers at least.
Warm welcome for an adulterer? She should be moving in with her parents. Her neighbors are idiots if they accept this behavior.
Maybe she is getting a warm wet welcome from some of her "friends and neighbors"!
Scott must have no backbone. Tell her to go live with her bucktoothed old sugar daddy.
It is never as simple as it looks to an outsider. Who are you to say what he should do with his marriage? Especially with children involved...
Wife cheat on you and let it ride? Why the hell does anyone even bother to get married anymore? But I do retract my statement based on an image search of Petraeus' wife. Ouch, my eyes are still hurting from the experience. Newt in drag comes to mind. Oh yeah, the kids will soon forget that mom likes old guys in power with lots of medals. They will soon learn the reality that mom gets around, happens everyday.
Yeah, and I just bet that you are God's gift to womankind, Wookie.
You would be surprised Atticus
Wookie....... You are one shallow person. Petraeus wife does so mush for the military famlies, is a wonderful mother and wife I'm sure. Looks don't last dear one, but a good personality and loyalty never go out of style. I'd take a man with a sense of humor and personality anytime over one with looks or money. Only egotist and gold diggers look for the outside appearances.
C'mon now, a change in hairstyle can do wonders. It looks like a schizophrenic 3rd grader cut her hair.
Needing a haircut is NOT a reason for your spouse to break vows.
Well, question is how many of the neighborhood husbands has she spent time with? This marriage is over!
Wow. You guys are brutal! I don't condone her behavior either. But their family matters are NONE of our damned business. This man and woman will make a decision about their relationship and family without our help.
Get on with life folks...
So much judgement on here by a lot of folks! The decision to stay together or not is their business and not anyone else's. Life is not always black and white. There are a lot of gray shades in between. Tend your own hearth and let them mind theirs!
Some people can tolerate a spouse that strays, some can't. I'm in the "can't" camp but accept that some people find their way through it. I've never had to deal with it, so I can't say for sure how I would react, but I know myself and trust my wife that neither of us would ever do that to the other one.
"...but I know myself and trust my wife that neither of us would ever do that to the other one."
Doesn't everyone start off that way? What makes you so different?
If you have to ask, you don't need to know!
Every time someone gets caught with their drawers down, the next story is they are focusing on family. It she was thinking about her family, she would not have been it bed with the general...
My marriage vow said "for better or worse"... anyone can make mistakes... husband and wife have to work it out one way or another... let them alone.....
Nothing quite like having your picture took while having a klutz moment and then posted coast to coast on the Internet and news.
Talk about bad bags. lol
She should get down on her knees and thank God every day that she has a forgiving good man for a husband. She has little kids and she spent all that time out of the country screwing a General. Her husband must be a saint, if it were me I would kick her butt to the curb.
so this poor guy and the kids get to pay for HER actions....nice.....sad thing is should this lead to a divorce you know damn well SHE will get the kids. not right,not fair,but it is a sad reality about 90% of the time .
I seriously doubt your would be so judgmental if the husband had cheated. I notice you don't slam Patraeus who is also a spouse and father.... AND Director of the CIA, even though he cheated, too. For once, the WOMAN is in the headlines for cheating instead of just the man who has cheated numerous times before and is just accepted as the good ole boy network. This was a woman with "some" power and therefore was more exposed and interesting to the media. Most politicians just pick up some woman and she is of little interest to the media. This cheating scenario was different. Broadwell and Kelly both sound like loosers who were obsessed with powerful men and enjoyed being in the limelight. Well they are in the limelight now!
Petreaus is a bigger scumbag than I even imagined when I was calling him General Betrayus many months ago. He is the epitome of slime, scum and any other ajective you can think of.
The Broadwell family must going through a very difficult time. I would be surprised if the family stays together. The stress must be unbearable given the media spotlight, probable loss of employment, and criminal investigation. The financial strain will be considerable. Paula Broadwell may face criminal charges over her reported possession of classified documents and possible disclosure of classified information in her talk in Denver.
Paula Broadwell was foolish to send the emails to Jill Kelly but I am happy that someone told Kelly to back off. Kelly should have been instructed long ago to keep out of military matters.
Broadwell may have a civil case against invasion of privacy by the FBI. It seems preposterous that the FBI investigated private emails involving a cat fight. I have not seen any evidence of threats in Broadwell's messages. Does the FBI have the right to read private messages and investigate personal disputes? What probable cause led to the FBI investigation? Are personal disputes aired in email messages now evidence of a crime?
Broadwell was "telling Kelly to back off" because she was JEALOUS of Kelly and thought she was making a play for her cheating lover! BROADWELL should have backed off herself! I'm sure Holly Patraeus would agree with me.
Prof - if you are talking about loss of employment for Broadwell, it was her choice to do what she did, so she deserves the consequences. If you are talking about Scott Broadwell, he is a physician. His partners aren't going to fire him because he more than likely owns part of the practice. As far as your other speculations are concerned, you haven't seen the actual e-mail messages, so you have no idea what they contain. Financial strain? Do a property search on their home. It's valued at over $900K.
How about national security? Jeez!
"Paula's focus right now is on her family..."
For a change, huh. I guess the neighbors will welcome the husband back. The wife....maybe not so much if they are the jealous types. I would be a bit nervous if I were a woman having her around my husband.
the fbi should investigate her husbands missing balls. they must be somewhere and obviously they arent attached to him.
couldn't agree more - they are probably sitting on the mantle in a jar of pickle juice! he should take those boys of theirs and leave - what a tramp.
Ya, go ahead and insult the victim here. Great idea.
You have no idea of all of the intricacies, the history, the constraints that their marriage has. He is someone who believes in forgiveness-who are you to say that the "ballsy" thing here is to walk away? In many ways, he appears to have chosen the tougher road,
Alex - you must have had yours removed too - probably at an early age. Forgiveness is fine - and I believe in it too - but you can forgive while you start fresh - maybe with someone who wants to be faithful. This woman sounds unstable anyhow - sending emails to people she feels are a threat to her relationship with her sugar daddy. Come on - next thing you know she'll be putting a diaper on and driving to flordia too ;)
I hope the Husband sues Petraeus for everything he has, even the Medals on his skinny chest. We have a General in such a high position that doesn't even have the Common Sense to keep from getting involved in a situation like this.
LOL, that was the funniest comment I have seen so far. However, it is very hard for a man to forgive a wife who cheated on them, if he stays, it will be for the kids and nothing will ever be the same. He has a great case to get custody of the kids. She was gone for long periods of time and the cheating scandal also gives him the upper hand.
Too bad Broadwell didn't "concentrate on her family" sooner.
Dr. Broadwell, kick that self serving bitch to the curb!! She wasn't thinking of you or her boys. She was only thinking of herself. Something it appears she is good at.
Who knows....maybe they are "swingers".....could be, after all nobody on here actually KNOWS anything. just conjecture.
Hopefully the warm welcome was for the cuckolded husband and the two children. I can't imagine how mortifying it must be for that family. No doubt they're making an attempt to stay together for the sake of the children but unfortunately, if the children are in school, other kids will no doubt make fun of their mother.
For chrissake, people. She has a lifetime of achievement behind her. This is a horrible aberration. Give it a rest.
Off to the library for you. The achievements you write about may be part of the facade. The FBI has been chasing this matter for months, not weeks. Sending threatening emails to the "other woman" suggests that Broadwell was not thinking about her husband and family at all. I am guessing she was working on what she thought was her future with the general.
That is the sanest thing anyone has written Terry. That is what she was doing. So wrong. But it is not all of her.
Why put a picture of the guy dropping a grocery bag in the news? Hasn't he suffered enough humiliation?
Adultery, scandal, compromised national security, destroyed lives and carriers. America celebrates this? obama has most defiantly made some changes. Another 3rd world slum-you all enjoy your chains.