Petraeus biographer expresses remorse for 'harm' caused by affair

Paula Broadwell speaks publicly for the first time about the extramarital affair that led to the CIA director's resignation

guardian.co.uk, Matt Williams in New York,  Friday 24 May 2013

Paula Broadwell and David Petraeus. Photograph: AP

The woman whose affair with David Petraeus cost the four-star general his job as CIA director has spoken of her remorse over her role in the scandal.

Six months after Paula Broadwell's personal relationship with her subject became public knowledge, she has given her fullest comments yet regarding the extramarital relationship.

"I have remorse for the harm that this has caused, the sadness it has caused in my family and other families and for causes that we belong to," she told North Carolina news channel WSOC-TV. She went on to credit her husband for standing by her.

The comments come two months after Petraeus publicly apologised for his part in the affair, which led to his resignation from the CIA in November.

Speaking at the University of Southern California's annual Reserve Officers' Training corps dinner in March, the former CIA director prefaced his address with: "Please allow me to begin my remarks this evening by reiterating how deeply I regret and apologise for the circumstances that led me to resign from the CIA and caused such pain for my family, friends and supporters."

His affair with Broadwell was discovered as part of an FBI investigation into emails she had sent to another woman, seemingly under the impression that the recipient was a rival for Petraeus's affections.

The resulting scandal toppled him from his post at the CIA. In a resignation message to staff, Petraeus admitted to displaying poor judgement in conducting the affair.

He added: "Such behaviour in unacceptable, both as a husband and as the leader of an organisation such as ours."

For her part, Broadwell has said little publicly about the affair. Earlier this month at a YMCA prayer breakfast in Charlotte she did admit to making "some mistakes in the past". She elaborated on this during Friday's interview.

Meanwhile Petraeus has begun his post-government life, taking on a part-time teaching role at the University of Southern California.