Michaele and Tareq Salahi, best known for intruding on a White House dinner in 2009, are set to formally separate following Michaele's filing of divorce papers in Virginia. The couple had a bitter falling-out after Michaele left her husband for a former boyfriend. Since she left, Tareq has been quoted calling her a "liar" and has accused of her living beyond her means.

For months after her departure from Tareq, Michaele issued no public statements. However, she recently spoke to reporters regarding the impending divorce, stressing that she is not bitter and wants to finalize the split peacefully. She also issued a message to her husband, saying, "Tareq, I wish you the happiness I have now." Tareq has also been relatively quiet, but has been accused of leaking or selling images of the couple's divorce papers and pre-nuptial agreement. He and his lawyer have refused to comment on the allegations.

Michaele's divorce filing provides insight into why she sought divorce. The filing claims that Tareq was prone to violent outbursts. While his violence was generally limited to smashing objects, the filing alleges that he once assaulted his wife. The filing asserts that Tareq began "putting both hands on the sides of her head, shaking her head, and yelling at her." Michaele also told reporters that she believes the death of Tareq's father in 2010 and a financial dispute with his mother contributed to his increasingly negative attitude. Additionally, a bankruptcy auction is scheduled for Tareq's family winery. Michaele said that all these factors combined to make Tareq "impossibly controlling."

There are several components that divorcing couples in Virginia may be able to draw comparisons with the Salahi's marital woes. For example, in today's economic times, financial changes to a household's income can instigate a rift in a marriage. Also, as seen in many divorces, sometimes a spouse finds it difficult to emotionally recover after a death of a loved one creating the catalyst for a divorce. It appears that in the case of the Michaele and Tareq Salahi, there may have been numerous reasons for their split.

Source: The Daily Beast, "Michaele and Tareq Salahi's Hellish Divorce," Diane Dimond, Jan. 4, 2012