Paula Broadwell Lawyers Up
Updated: As details continue to emerge about a federal investigation of hostile email reportedly sent by Paula Broadwell to a woman whose family is friendly with ex-CIA director David H. Petraeus and his wife, there is news that Broadwell, a high-achieving West Point graduate who co-authored a biography about the retired four-star general, has lawyered up.
She is now being represented by Robert F. Muse, a longtime Washington, D.C., criminal defense attorney, the Washington Post reports.
Although news accounts have not said that Broadwell is facing any criminal charges, she and Petraeus, who quit his job at the CIA last week after acknowledging that he had had an extramarital affair, both turned over their computers to investigators. They reportedly showed that Broadwell had some classified documents in her possession and investigators thought, apparently incorrectly, that she might have obtained them from Petraeus.
Additional news reports published after this ABAJournal.com article was initially posted said that Broadwell’s home in Charlotte, N.C., was searched over a four-hour period Monday night and early Tuesday morning by the FBI, as Bloomberg and the Charlotte Observer detail.
It isn’t clear what the agents were seeking, or what was contained in the boxes they carried from the home. Muse did not respond to requests for comment from Bloomberg.
Federal lawmakers have questioned why they weren’t informed earlier of a probe with national security implications that has reportedly been ongoing for months.
Additional and related coverage:
Associated Press: “Petraeus shocked at mistress’ emails to friend”
New York Times (reg. req.): “Biographer’s E-Mails to Woman Led F.B.I. to Petraeus”
Wall Street Journal: “FBI Scrutinized on Petraeus”
Washington Post: “Petraeus, snagged by online data trail, lived much of his life on e-mail”
Updated on Nov. 13 to include information about search of Broadwell’s home.
