Petraeus Affair Could End Broadwell's Army Career (But She Won't Be Prosecuted for Adultery)

Military Dot Com ^ | 13 Nov 12 | Bryant Jordan

[SkyPilot]

The Army Reserve officer alleged to have had an affair with former CIA Director and retired Army Gen. David Petraeus could be forced out of the service.

Paula Broadwell, a lieutenant colonel with a top secret security clearance, is under investigation by the FBI for sending anonymous, threatening emails to a Florida woman who is friends with Petraeus. The FBI traced the emails to Broadwell’s computer, and in so doing uncovered evidence of her affair with Petraeus.

No charges have been filed against Broadwell. However, the emails, as well as public statements she reportedly made about the U.S. consulate attack in Benghazi, Libya, could end her 15-year military career, according to Phil Cave, a retired Navy judge advocate in Washington DC who specializes in military law in private practice.

"If there is an issue with her judgment they can seek to revoke her clearance," Cave said on Monday, noting Broadwell's reported statements that the CIA was holding prisoners in the Benghazi compound that came under attack. The CIA has denied it was holding prisoners and that detail has been reported by no other media outlet.

If officials can determine that Broadwell committed any offenses or unprofessional conduct during a current period of active duty, she could be flagged and held on active duty for prosecution the same as any other active-duty member, Cave said. That would make her subject to all the disciplinary actions available, including letters of reprimand or dismissal. If she is in a Reserve unit and not on orders then any action likely would be limited to administrative punishment, which still could include being dismissed from the service, Cave said.

Cave did not expect prosecutors to pursue adultery charges against Broadwell, a punishable offense in the U.S. military.

"I doubt she'd be prosecuted for the adultery."

[edcoil]

I would hope losing her husband and family would be the worse think to happen but with this group I am not so sure. I do know we have an embassy and ambassador down in Libya and no one seems to care.

[samadams2000]

People keep saying Petaeus is a man of integrity. He is not. If he does not testify to the Bengahzi timeline he has the blood of Americans on his hands. 4 dead Americans and the CIA chief does not testify? The Sec State is drinking in Australia? The DOD chief says he’s reading about all of this in the paper. Where is the outrage? When do we go French Revolution II on DC?

[TurboZamboni]

it’s OK. there are different rules for women:
different PT test
no Selective Service sign up required
mandatory return from the field for showers
and of course, what you just wrote.

[SkyPilot]

Well, look where we are as a nation. I see Biblical judgment coming down on us just as it did on ancient Israel.

There is another angle to her not be prosecuted for adultery that the media won't touch with a nine foot pole. Since Don't Ask Don't Tell was repealed and homosexuality is now DoD approved, adultery cases (especially high profile public ones as this one is) will be harder to prosecute. Don't think that the military can't force those down a military court's throat, because they can. My point it they won't, especially against a female officer, and most especially in a high profile case.

Lt Col Broadwell is a West Point graduate. She knows the rules. At the very least, the military could throw the book at her for violating Article 133 of the UCMJ. Don't expect that to happen.

[afraidfortherepublic]

I read elsewhere that Ms. Broadwell left email messages to the General in his draft folder on his computer, and he did the same for here. That is how she had access to his computer to send threatening emails to Ms. Kelley.

Could this possibly be true? Why the heck does an underling, a reserve office, a half-civilian have access to the General’s computer? Doesn’t that seem bizarre to anybody? Isn’t that a blatant infringement of classified rules?

And when are we going to learn exactly what the threats were that sent Ms. Kelley running to the FBI to protect her?

Doesn’t all of this intrigue seem rather incestuous?

[afraidfortherepublic]

She knows the rules. At the very least, the military could throw the book at her for violating Article 133 of the UCMJ. Don't expect that to happen.

It should.

[edcoil]

I would hope losing her husband and family would be the worse think to happen but with this group I am not so sure. I do know we have an embassy and ambassador down in Libya and no one seems to care.

[Uri’el-2012]

It seems as if a couple of crazy
Lebanese twins are running CentCom.

[stoneyhll]

They posted messages to each other in a gmail account. You do not need access to the general’s computer to do that. You only need the password to the account.

[nascarnation]

LOL
The twins have a robust career ahead in the reality tv biz.
I can see DWTS, RHW, and maybe even their own Kardashianesque gig.

[bigbob]

I am boggled at the word “could”. Seems to me it guaran-damn-teed should end her military career.

I haven’t served in the military but in the private business world, you would not pass go or collect $200, you would be out the door.

[camle]

they should introduce her to monica lewinsky. the two of them can commiserate...two peas in a pod

[SkyPilot]

The media is also getting a huge portion of this story wrong. They keep referring to Paula Broadwell as a "former Army officer."

That is 100% WRONG. She is currently a Lt Col in the US Army Reserves as a commissioned 0-5. She was promoted as recently as August 2012 - that was 3 months ago!

On top of everything else, she apparently revealed classified information to a 'symposium' and when the FBI seized her laptop they found classified documents on it.

Let me tell you in the clearest of terms: there are currently officers in the Disciplinary Barracks of Fort Leavenworth who are serving 25 years to life for those offenses right now. Tack on the adultery, conduct unbecoming, and fraternization charges, and she would be beyond toast.

[TChris]

I am boggled at the word “could”. Seems to me it guaran-damn-teed should end her military career.

I'd guess some deals were made.

[stuartcr]

Is adultery actually illegal? If so, in all states and DC?

[SkyPilot]

My wife used to tell me never to trust a woman who cocks her head to one side during a photograph. I never knew what she meant until now.

[alarm rider]

You are correct. Petaeus is not a man of integrity, he got himself into this whole mess because he lacked the will to keep it zipped. Shame on him, I offer no sympathy for a guy in a position of power who cannot be trusted to understand that bad conduct has bad consequences.

[afraidfortherepublic]

Thanks for the explanation. The account I heard said that they left their messages in a draft folder. I’m thinking of OUTLOOK where only the person in possession of the computer has access to the draft folder and furthermore only the draft folder in their own account.

[Ted Grant]

Her cray cray sister looks a bit flabby.