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James Brantley
Multiple sources tell NBC News the woman with her back to the camera in the top photo is Paula Broadwell. She is pictured at a reception prior to the annual OSS Society awards dinner in Washington on Oct. 27, speaking to a man who is nearly obscured in the photo. The photographer and a senior U.S. intelligence official tell NBC News that the man is Gen. David Petraeus, also attended the event. The photo below, taken approximately a minute later, shows Petraeus speaking to one of the unidentified guests in the first photo.
Two weeks before his resignation as CIA Director, David Petraeus and his biographer, Paula Broadwell, met at an event honoring one of Petraeus' predecessors, NBC News has learned. It is the last known meeting between the two before the scandal that cost Petraeus his job went public and occurred after Broadwell had admitted to the FBI the two had an extramarital affair, according to multiple government and law enforcement officials.
One senior U.S. intelligence official who attended the event – the annual Office of Strategic Services Society awards dinner -- tells NBC News that he saw the two speak to each other at the Oct. 27 event. The official did not know details of the conversation.
And photographer James Brantley, who worked the event, said he is certain the two spoke, based on the photos above, which he estimated were taken about a minute apart. The first shows Broadwell speaking to a man who is nearly obscured in the photo, as two unidentified guests look on. The second, taken from a different position, clearly shows Petraeus speaking to one of the other guests from the first photo.
The duo’s presence at the same event was first reported by the conservative weekly Human Events, which said they attended together. But numerous partygoers interviewed by NBC News disputed that.
Still, their public proximity raised eyebrows after the events of last week unfolded.
Said one former senior U.S. intelligence official who attended, “It’s mind-boggling that she could be so reckless as to show up at high-profile events like this, shortly after learning the FBI was investigating their affair.”
Charles T. Plinck, director of the OSS Society, did not return phone calls seeking comment from NBC News.
Email to Gen. Allen among those Kelley gave to FBI
The event came more than a month after Broadwell was first interviewed by the FBI following discovery of compromising emails that ultimately led to Petraeus' resignation on Nov. 9. Days after the event, the FBI would interview Petraeus for the first time and Broadwell for a second time. The event also occurred about four months after the two reportedly broke off their 10-month affair.
ISAF via Reuters file
Meet the people who have been pulled into the scandal that caused Gen. David Petraeus to resign.
The dinner is the annual award ceremony of the OSS Society, a group dedicated to honoring veterans of the Office of Strategic Services, the World War II predecessor to the Central Intelligence Agency. Petraeus, who sources described as being in a "great mood" that night, gave one of the speeches honoring former CIA director and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, the recipient of this year's William Donovan Award, named for the director of the OSS.
The dinner is one of the intelligence community's most high-profile events. It attracts top U.S. and international intelligence officials, former directors of the CIA and other U.S. intelligence agencies. In addition to Petraeus and Gates, others who attended included John Bennett, director of the CIA’s National Clandestine Service; William Webster, former head of both the CIA and FBI; Adm. Mike Mullen, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Ambassador Hugh Montgomery, former director of the State Department's Bureau of Intelligence and Research.
Robert Windrem is a senior investigative producer with NBC News.
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If you are going to have a biographer or videographer follow you around, it better be someone of the same sex. Or the opposite sex depending on how you're set up.
Oh hell. Forget the biography anyway. Nobody really cares that much.
Just more B/S to keep the real facts of what happened in Bengazi off of the people minds. This gives odumbo more breathing room and more time to get his story straight as to what and how soon he knew about the killing/murders of our people in Bengazi. The news media are a real piece of work, they did not and still are not pushing for answers about Bengazi from odumbo but push this trash in our faces.
Funny how this mess comes out after the election.
...but also before the election: DAVE IN 2016!
Must have been a boring conversation... The dude on the left seems more interrested in "other things".
Meanwhile, in the real world that matters:
- Unemployment claims are skyrocketing
- Layoffs are skyrocketing
- Business's closing are skyrocketing
- Benghazi cover-up is miraculously replaced by tabloid fodder
- And the stupidity of 1/2 the legal & illegal voters has proven to be skyrocketing
Does anyone feel the Adminsitration is using this affair to deflect on what happened in Libya? I do. What better way to delay hearings and distract the press from the real story...the cover up of Bengazi.
good thing the government was smart enough to get them to have the affair a year ago....so they could use it when they needed to, eh?
The deeper they dig, the uglier it gets. This "General" Allen needs to step down.
Jo Ann 666954 #1 OMG lady chill out. I am envious of the black spiders ability to wear that dress and yes I do fee sorry for their children but I also feel responsible because had the USA not listened to McCain and his war zealots we perhaps would have not been in War again. Al Quida or their own patriots under any name did stab us in 911 in our heart but was it really necessary for "gotcha" feeling to send our men for so many years to lose their hearts and break so many hearts here at home. Who really wins in love and war? #2 What is the big difference of who was first accused of the attack in Bengazi? Considering we still have boots on the ground in their country I am sure it wasn't the Irish or Mexicans attacking us. Did you really have toknow their names and party or club affiliations immediately? Are you accusing Pres Ob and his collegues of sitting around and drinking tea or having a burrito knowing full well that their personal close friends (troops) are burning to death? Thats what it sounds like. A person was shot to death 2 months ago here in Wichita Ks and to this day the police authorities will not release any (nada) information until full investigation is complete. Should I ask the Chief of Police to resign or do I yak yak yak about incompetency, political personal wants, neglect and add on the word conspiracy? Chill out and let our elected officials do their jobs without everyone wanting to be couch intelligency know it all (nothing) critics. I trust our Government and that is why I live in the USA. If I didn't I would find some where else to move. It is what it is.
Charlie Sheen had better taste (and he was a winner too!).
:)
having some fun!
This article and many others like this does not help the United States Homeland Security and the military out. Sometimes you just don't broadcast everything you know to John Q. Public. This article puts many innocent people at risk. The decision to write and list all these top people was a poor and unexcusable decision. It could put you or me or anyone else in harms way.
Ben:
Should we be in business of not telling truth when truth is all around.Peopel are not stupid and we are not in 1960's where information moves at the speed of light and that light has power to go around corners and grooves.
Smoke and mirrors to shield President Obama from the real issues.
429K new unemployment claims, most in the midwest far from the Sandy zone.
Bengazi - what is being covered up?
Stock market still in free fall after the election - no more blaming anyone but President Obama
There recently have been five generals under investigation for improper behavior and
at least one admiral. These guys are meeting all the quailifcations needed to become a congressman.
This story creates more problem for the Petraeus. He said he has not met her and this story contradicts that. He better have straighten it out by tomorrow.
These kind of thing may indicate that general still have some residual thing for Broadwell. That can create more problems for him, Obama Adm and everyone else.
Does anyone else think it's rather odd that Gen. P. had just ONE extra marital experience at the age of 60? What did he do when he was a Lieutenant? A Major? A one star general?
Where do these women find the time to write books, create lavish entertainment events, email prolifically, curry favor with shirtless FBI agent(s), shop, take care of children, run their households, cook?, get their nails, hair, and skin done?
The two Drs. Scott might want to check the DNA of their kids.
All this being said, my personal take is that this tabloid fodder should have been shoveled with the barn droppings. This is personal bad behavior, and from what I've read so far, there was no compromised secret information.
Ok, in the top pic, she looks like she is dressed for a remake of Aladdin. In the next pic down, he has the most rodent-like face I have ever seen. CREEPY ARROGANT POWER-DRIVEN BUFFOONS - I think there was more integrity in the characters on Hogan's Heroes!
If he had a gay boyfriend it would have been fine in the Army.
So after the dinner they chatted, yea like your room or mine and in no time he was " ALL IN ". After their divorces the HOT SEX won't be very hot anymore !
Re: ".... she could be so reckless as to show up at high-profile events like this, shortly after learning ...FBI investigating ..."
(1) The affair ended 10 months prior (& only lasted 4 months).
(2) This criteria better fits a critique of Petraeus. They both are guilty, Petraeus mores so. There is no honor when he took accountability only when CAUGHT. He wasted HUGE taxpayer money by taking pay while failing duty, and caused a huge investigation b/c he had no integrity.
(3) Paula was invited to this event, and it would be rude - maybe career damaging - to not attend a military / gov't social event.
It is moronic to "forgive" Petraeus since he actually broke laws, and "blame" Paula who broke no laws.
More true: since Petraeus failed in duty and broke laws, wasting taxpayer money, HE should have had too much shame to be at the event. Paula was there w/ her hubby, being professional/kind, strong woman she is. Good for her. "reckless"? - so not true.
Re: ".... she could be so reckless as to show up at high-profile events like this, shortly after learning ...FBI investigating ..."
(1) The affair ended 10 months prior (& only lasted 4 months).
(2) This criteria better fits a critique of Petraeus. They both are guilty, Petraeus mores so. There is no honor when he took accountability only when CAUGHT. He wasted HUGE taxpayer money by taking pay while failing duty, and caused a huge investigation b/c he had no integrity.
(3) Paula was invited to this event, and it would be rude - maybe career damaging - to not attend a military / gov't social event.
It is moronic to "forgive" Petraeus since he actually broke laws, and "blame" Paula who broke no laws.
More true: since Petraeus failed in duty and broke laws, wasting taxpayer money, HE should have had too much shame to be at the event. Paula was there w/ her hubby, being professional/kind, strong woman she is. Good for her. "reckless"? - so not true.
They both are guilty, Petraeus more so. There is no honor taking accountability only when CAUGHT. He wasted HUGE taxpayer money by taking pay while failing duty, and causing a huge investigation. It is moronic to "forgive" Petraeus since he actually broke laws, and "blame" Broadwell who broke no laws. They are 2 consenting adults who both flubbed. HE had more reasonS to be ashamed. There's a reason he only took accountability when caught - he is guilty and did all his crimes willingly. Broadwell "Reckless"?.. "Bimbo"? . far-from-true comments from misogynist, cave-man minds. Why don't we just brand Broadwell w/ a glowing red "A", while congratulating Petraeus for his "conquest"? He is the superior officer and nobody forced him to do a dang thing. Using sex to obtain a positive biography review is pathetic. Sure he's had many other actions that deserved honor, etc. this? - Petraeus is way more to blame than she. A successful, strong, self built, highly intelligent and talented woman who has shown impeccable professionalism and integrity a "Bimbo"? Grow up.
They chatted, i'll bet ! UMMMMM, when can I have some more Paula ? Not until our divorces are final sweetie !
Who cares who had an affair with. It was ok for Clinton to screw every tail he met, The Kennedys always were tail hunting and that was and still seems to be ok with a lot of people but this retired General gets pulled over the coals by the obama news people like msn and that left wing contingent. Of course there was a witch hunt on and the rouse that they were looking for possible threatening emails to a military groupie, who is highly in debt and without merit is so obvious. Not to mention the weird FBI agent that acted so bizarre . Well that is what half of the people wanted now they have it. How is that political action going on states succeeding from the US and maybe forming a new goverment and country. Sounds interesting to read about.
Ok, so Power and Rank must be a helluvan Aphrodisiac cause the good General looks a lot like a Putz with Ears....Just sayin'......
It's a bit of a stretch to say that Broadwell is hot. And she certainly reminds me of the semi-attractive, not that bright girl in high school who worked every angle to be class president...I find it pretty telling that she couldn't complete the biography herself and had to bring in a pro to write it for her.
Ok, lets get this correct, On 9/11/12, Ambassador Chris Stevens, Sean Smith, Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty are killed in a terrorist attack on a consulate and CIA "house" in Libya. Following this, a coverup or something very wrong occured and obama felt that after the "bumps in the road" he should fly to Vegas to fundraise. Meanwhile, one of the best military minds we have seen, David Petreaus is having an affair with some other married woman. Keep in mind that Petreaus led important surges and campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan. Fast forward to now..............more people know the details of this sex scandal or whatever it is. How many news organizations could name any of the 4 murdered in the terrorist attack? shame on the media.. and shame on americans