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David Petraeus Affair Began After He Left Army: Former Spokesman

Petraeus Wife Said To Be Beyond 'Furious'
AP/The Huffington Post
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WASHINGTON — A former spokesman for David Petraeus says the retired general's affair with a female biographer started after Petraeus left the Army.

Retired Army Col. Steve Boylan told ABC's "Good Morning America" that Petraeus' wife of 38 years, Holly, is "furious" over the matter. Boylan also said in an interview that Petraeus' affair with Paula Broadwell ended four months ago. Petraeus, who has resigned as CIA director, acknowledged the affair in a letter to agency employees.

"He deeply regrets and know how much pain this causes his family," he said. He said the affair started about two months after he began as CIA director in September 2011. "This kind of evolved over time," he said. He added the relationship was a "colossal mistake."

Boylan, appearing Monday on ABC, said Petraeus' wife "is not exactly pleased right now. Furious would be an understatement."

Boylan, who says he spoke with Petraeus over the weekend, told NBC's "Today" show that Petraeus is "devastated." Boylan says "it's going to take a long time" for him to set things straight at home.

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Before You Go

Afghanistan War, By The Numbers
Start of War: Oct. 7, 2001(01 of08)
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American soldiers hide behind a barricade during an explosion, prior to fighting with Taliban forces November 26, 2001 at the fortress near Mazar-e-Sharif, northern Afghanistan. (Photo by Oleg Nikishin/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
Number of U.S. Troops in Afghanistan: 88,000(02 of08)
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US Marines with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit deployed from the USS Bataan's Amphibious Ready Group arrive December 14, 2001 at an undisclosed location with field gear and weapons. (Photo by Johnny Bivera/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
Number of Troops at War's Peak(03 of08)
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U.S. Marines begin to form up their convoy at a staging area near Kandahar, Afghanistan, as they await orders to begin their trek to Kandahar to take control of the airfield 13 December, 2001. (DAVE MARTIN/AFP/Getty Images)

Number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan at the war's peak: About 101,000 in 2010. Allies provided about 40,000. (credit:Getty)
Withdrawal Plans(04 of08)
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U.S. President Barack Obama delivers a televised address from the East Room of the White House on June 22, 2011 in Washington, D.C. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais-Pool/Getty Images)

Withdrawal plans: 23,000 U.S. troops expected to come home by the end of the summer, leaving about 68,000 in Afghanistan. Most U.S. troops expected to be out of Afghanistan by the end of 2014, though the U.S. is expected to maintain a sizeable force of military trainers and a civilian diplomatic corps. (credit:Getty)
Number of U.S. Casualties(05 of08)
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American flags, each one representing the 4,454 American soldiers killed in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, move in the breeze at The Christ Congregational United Church March 17, 2008 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Number of U.S. casualties: At least 1,828 members of the U.S. military killed as of Tuesday, according to an Associated Press count. According to the Defense Department, 15,786 U.S. service members have been wounded in hostile action. (credit:Getty)
Afghan Civilian Casualties (06 of08)
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Asan Bibi, 9, sits on a bench as burn cream is applied to her at Mirwais hospital October 13, 2009 Kandahar, Afghanistan. She, her sister and mother were badly burned when a helicopter fired into their tent in the middle of the night on October 3rd, according to their father. (Photo by Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

Afghan civilian casualties: According to the United Nations, 11,864 civilians were killed in the conflict between 2007, when the U.N. began reporting statistics, and the end of 2011. (credit:Getty)
Cost of the War(07 of08)
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An Iraqi man counts money behind a pile of American dollars in his currency exchange bureau in Baghdad on April 11, 2012. (ALI AL-SAADI/AFP/Getty Images)

Cost of the war: $443 billion from fiscal year 2001 through fiscal year 2011, according to the Congressional Research Service. (credit:Getty)
Number of Times Obama Has Visited Afghanistan(08 of08)
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US President Barack Obama speaks to troops during a visit to Bagram Air Field on May 1, 2012 in Afghanistan. (MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images)

Number of times Obama has visited Afghanistan: 3 as president, including Tuesday, and 1 as a presidential candidate. (credit:Getty)
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