The Husband Knew

Paula Broadwell will now forever be known as the woman who brought down the CIA Director by having an affair with him. Apparently she was not very secretive about it at all because her husband, a doctor, and father of their two children wrote into a New York Times advice column back in July asking for help what to do.

My wife is having an affair with a government executive. His role is to manage a project whose progress is seen worldwide as a demonstration of American leadership. (This might seem hyperbolic, but it is not an exaggeration.) I have met with him on several occasions, and he has been gracious. (I doubt if he is aware of my knowledge.) I have watched the affair intensify over the last year, and I have also benefited from his generosity. He is engaged in work that I am passionate about and is absolutely the right person for the job. I strongly feel that exposing the affair will create a major distraction that would adversely impact the success of an important effort. My issue: Should I acknowledge this affair and finally force closure? Should I suffer in silence for the next year or two for a project I feel must succeed? Should I be “true to my heart” and walk away from the entire miserable situation and put the episode behind me? NAME WITHHELD

What would you tell him to do?

The NY Times said to not expose the affair in any high profile way. Ooops. Guess that happened anyway.