E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSOfficials say that thousands of emails between General John Allen and Florida socialite Jill Kelley are flirtatious, but the general denies a relationship. NBC's Andrea Mitchell reports.
Updated 4 p.m. ET: Allegedly “inappropriate” emails between U.S. Gen. John Allen and the woman who sparked the investigation into CIA Director David Petraeus do not signify the two had an affair, a defense official told NBC News on Tuesday.
“There was no affair,” said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The emails in question could be misconstrued, the official said, predicting that the investigation will prove Allen’s innocence.
Allen, the commander of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, is under investigation over allegations that he exchanged “inappropriate” emails with Jill Kelley, a senior defense official told reporters earlier Tuesday.
A difference of opinion appeared to be brewing at the Pentagon about how to characterize the emails, with another official calling them flirtatious.
Kelley, a Tampa, Fla., woman who has acted as a volunteer “social liaison” with military officials at MacDill Air Force Base, inadvertently launched the investigation that led to Petraeus’ resignation by complaining to the FBI about anonymous emails she received. FBI agents traced the allegedly threatening emails to Paula Broadwell, Petraeus' biographer.
Emails on 'coming and goings' of Petraeus, other military officials escalated FBI concerns
During the investigation, agents discovered emails between Petraeus and Broadwell that were indicative of an extramarital affair between them, according to government and law enforcement officials.
Petraeus, who was appointed 14 months ago to head the Central Intelligence Agency, announced his resignation on Friday, citing an extramarital affair.
Word of the investigation into Gen. Allen’s involvement came early Tuesday, when U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta issued a statement during a flight to Australia for a meeting with defense officials there, saying that the FBI had referred “a matter involving" Allen to the Department of Defense's Inspector General.
Those who know the two women at the center of General David Petraeus' affair scandal are speaking out. Jill Kelley's brother says she is "dedicated" to her husband, while Paula Broadwell's friend calls her "a pretty great person." NBC's Kristen Welker reports.
“Today, the secretary directed that the matter be referred to the Inspector General of the Department of Defense for investigation, and it is now in the hands of the Inspector General,” Panetta said.
Panetta’s statement did not include specifics, but a senior defense official traveling with him told reporters that Allen “was under investigation for “inappropriate communications” with Kelley.
The official also said the investigation involved some 20,000 to 30,000 pages of material, mostly emails, which were sent from 2010 to 2012, adding that Allen “disputes that he has engaged in any wrongdoing in this matter.”
Later in the day, however, a defense official at the Pentagon told NBC News that the number of emails between Allen and Kelley was inflated.
The FBI eventually discovered that the emails received by Jill Kelley, a close friend of the Petraeus family, were sent by Paula Broadwell. And as they dug deeper, the affair between Broadwell and Petraeus came to light. NBC's Andrea Mitchell reports.
"That is a mischaracterization," said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity. "The communications with General Allen were lumped in with a lot of other email traffic."
The official said that the Allens and Kelleys were "family friends," and the emails were written in that manner. Many of the emails were not personal communications between the general and Jill Kelley, the official added, but included Allen's wife. And many were between Allen's wife and Jill Kelley, with General Allen just copied, the official said.
"What we're dealing with is the possible perception of inappropriateness," the official said, but it will become clear that there was no wrongdoing. "This is not at the level of the director of the CIA."
According to a senior U.S. military official, Pentagon General Counsel Jeh Johnson read "a number" of the emails between Allen and Kelley before he advised Panetta to refer the matter to the Inspector General.
"Leon Panetta didn't make this decision lightly," the official said late Tuesday. The emails were more than just calling one another "sweetheart," characterizing them as flirtatious, the official said.
While the emails may not prove an affair or even be inappropriate, they were unprofessional, the official said.
Allen will meet with investigators over the next few days, but then he is expected to head back to Afghanistan to continue in his role as Commander of ISAF, according to the official.
Panetta’s statement said that Allen would remain commander of ISAF during the investigation and that he was “entitled to due process in this matter.”
But Allen’s nomination to take over as head of U.S. forces in Europe and NATO's Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, was put on hold “until the relevant facts are determined,” Panetta said.
ISAF via Reuters file
Meet the people who have been pulled into the scandal that caused Gen. David Petraeus to resign.
Allen was in Washington, D.C., preparing for his Senate confirmation hearings which were originally scheduled for Thursday, NBC News reported.
Allen had no advance warning about the investigation, a close aide of Allen’s told NBC News. He was alerted to the probe by the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Martin Dempsey Monday night ET. Allen had a number of meetings scheduled for Tuesday on Capitol Hill, although the aide was unsure if they would take place.
Allen’s connection to the Petraeus investigation also seems to have caught the Defense Department off guard.
“This came as very surprising news, to say the least. No one in the Pentagon is leaping to conclusions just yet,” a senior defense official traveling with Panetta told NBC News. “It's important to review the materials to determine the facts, and it's too early speculate about where this will lead. In the meantime, Gen. Allen needs to focus on the war effort, which he's successfully led since last year.”
The ISAF was also unaware of the investigation until late Monday or early Tuesday, and it declined to comment, in a written statement, referring all questions to the Defense Department.
Allen, a highly decorated officer, took over as ISAF commander in July 2011, and was nominated on Oct. 10 to take over as NATO commander, the same time that his successor at the ISAF was named as Gen. Joseph Dunford.
The confirmation of Dunford, currently assistant commandant of the Marine Corps, is now expected to be fast tracked.
“The secretary has respectfully requested that the Senate act promptly on that nomination," Panetta’s statement said.
NBC News' Courtney Kube, Jeff Black, Ian Johnston and Rachel Elbaum contributed to this report.
Some members of Congress are saying that they or, at the least President Obama, should have been told about the investigation into the director of the CIA while it was going on. NBC's Pete Williams reports.
Related content from NBCNews.com:
- Emails on 'coming and goings' of military officials escalated FBI concerns
- Sen. Feinstein: 'We will need to talk to David Petraeus' about Benghazi
- Video: FBI agent search Broadwell's home
- CIA Director David Petraeus resigns, cites extramarital affair
- Video: Petraeus' stunning fall from grace
- Petraeus' biographer under FBI investigation over access to his email, officials say
- David Petraeus a battlefield 'hero' and savvy Washington insider
- Video: A ‘painful’ admission from Petraeus
Follow US news from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook
Leave a Comment:
Odd that Americans applaud soldiers having gay butt sex but a general has to resign over a fling with the camp tramp. World upside down.
He resigned because he violated the oaths he took regarding his personal standards of behavior while serving as the Director of the CIA, and he put his country at risk by letting himself become vulnerable to cyber-hackers (some who don't like us very much). it's not just about a romp in the rack.
I was so sure you could have woven the atrocity of abortion mills into that if you'd really tried. Did you hear about the international homosexual conspiracy to have the military adopt fuchsia tutus for camoflage ? I'm sure Fox News will be right on this late breaking story.
Peter - do you have any idea the protocols that the CIA uses to protect their networks and themselves from being compromised? Do you understand that cyber-warfare is among the greatest threats to our national security? Do you understand the sophistication of the methods cyber-hackers use against us every day? I didn't think so. What is your level of security clearance? Nick at Nite? Take the situation lightly if you want, but be glad that there are those who understand the gravity of the situation and don't look at it like you do.
Another Cover-up from Obama and his people .... Holder knew of this in the spring ... other people last year > thus Obama knew .... The General should of been fired the same day they knew of this.
Why is it > Liberals NEVER consider whats Best for America over whats best for Dems. They are far worse at this than Rep ... Rep did go along with taking Nixon down.
Bill Clinton cheated with dozens / hell 100s of women while in office and the Dem NEVER wanted him out of office.
During WW II the supreme allied commander Eisenhower had his driver Kate ( I can't remember her last name) who was his companion and his relationship with her was a non issue. As far as I know and the way it was treated was something that existed but there was no controversy concerning it.
not sure they had cyber-hackers back then. What was Eisenhower's email address?
prog.1 Are you suggesting that the ban on extramarital affairs be removed from the Uniform Code of Conduct in the military?
Pathetic, or natural. They remain human beings.
All these gorgeous young women going after these ugly old men.....why? POWER! The women are just as stupid as the top brass. Men go after A$$ and women go after POWER thinking it'll make them feel more important who they obviously are not. Poor pitiful women and poor idiot men thinking they won't get caught.
We get it, you're a powerless virgin. Poor you!
You may continue moaning now.
Apparently you have 2 or more dysfunctional individuals here. The relationship its self may not be the biggest issue but the E-Mails indicate too much access between the Gen. and his partner. Also it looks like the sex partner was threatening a non involved party.
Sheesh...Is there any of US that give a damn over who is borking who? Hell from my point of view, I'm happy to see that my armed forces hasn't all turned gay. (I still have trouble picturing a fairy in full battle gear.)
BUT, back to the point...WE DON'T CARE what they do on their own time...we DO CARE when our elected officials waste their time "investigating" such nonsense and appearing shocked on TV shows, when it would be nice if they did some real work for a change...like maybe working on the tax code and improving gov't income and controlling gov't expenditures. Maybe even develop a job or two. Close a loophole over there. Perhaps investigate the pill companies and the prices they charge medicare. You know, useful stuff.
The affair itself is not that much of an issue but the poor judgment of the involved parties with the apparent access to some classified information is another issue. Also the fact that the Paula Broadwell's threatening E-Mails sent to a non involved 3rd party indicates she lost her prospective on the situation and then you have to wonder about the judgment of any individual who uses E-Mail to facilitate the affair.
Amazed, you still don't get it. The Director of the CIA does not have the luxury of having his "own time." And his (or her) standards of behavior apply 24/7. You don't take that job without knowing that. There are international repercussions for f***ing up while you are the D/CIA. That's why it's news and worthy of investigation. If he was retired General Petraeus hanging out in Fort Living Room, it would be a non-story.
Um, this is s sex scandal, nothing more. The attempts to make it womething more are absurd.
You conspiracy theorists are being made a fool of by the Conservative Entertainment Complex.
Hmmm...
Let's see who the replacement players for the Obama administration are for the 2nd term. Between those alledged sex-capades, resignations, and releases; the executive branch may show some "flexibility".
when clinton was doing a girl in the White House that was barely out of her teens nobody cared - why should we care about the general having an affair? If it's good enough for the president who is privy to all the nations' secrets it should be good enough for the rest of us - right?
Clinton got impeached over it.
He had the honor of being the latest of only three US presidents ever impeached.
I wouldn't say nobody cared about Clinton/Monica..it is the French who truly didn't care that Mitterand had a wife and a (long-term) mistress. Americans have a long way to go.
Did Clinton make himself vulnerable to security breaches by emailng Monica? Did Monica make speeches at universities about national security issues? Maybe it's about a little more than the General's favorite sex position.
My , my what a tangled web we weave.
Then you need to go back to spider school and learn how to do it right.
The real story is:
BENGHAZI BENGHAZI BENGHAZI
BENGHAZI BENGHAZI BENGHAZI
BENGHAZI BENGHAZI BENGHAZI
BENGHAZI BENGHAZI BENGHAZI
BENGHAZI BENGHAZI BENGHAZI
Do not let this MSNBC smoke screen obscure the real story.
Funny?? Here is the latest Foxnews headline........... MORE THAN FLIRTING?
Gen. Allen's email to socialite were
like 'phone sex,' sources say
Don't you love the way so many are taking this all the way to the doorstep of the White House! Of all the lame blame gaming during this silly season of politics and intrigue, that notion takes the cake. Folks, the general is the one who unzipped, it has absolutely nothing to do with President Obama...in fact, Eric Cantor knew of the investigation 2 weeks before the president was notified...go figure that one out! Conspiracy theorists/teavangelical repubs will do anything to discredit Obama, but thankfully, he is above the fray. Put blame where it belongs...the general, the two women, Gen. Allen, and whomever else the investigation digs up...but the person who is most innocent, who stood by the general for 37 years, who aged gracefully and graciously, his wife, is the one who is standing in the wings watching her life fall away, betrayed by a 60-year old miserable excuse of a man who tried to regain his youth with a younger, more striking woman. Not only should he be eternally shamed for what he's done to his wife, but for tarnishing a stellar military career, he should be kicked to the curb for this one...to discredit the service he's given his life to, for giving the world yet another reason to laugh at the lack of morals in this country, he should face whatever discipline measures available to the military to take his stars immediately...it is good that he had the common decency to resign from the CIA...to stay on and fight his infidelity would have been outrageous.
I am getting the "feeling" that these two women are a couple of "pros". I am now questioning who put them up to this and what is the true motivation. It does not excuse the stupidity on the part of Petraeus or maybe Allen.
Clinton's impeachment was only politically motivated by the republican party which was mad over Clinton's success. Gingrich who led the charges against Clinton was himself involved in 2 or 3 affairs at the time he was bringing charges against Clinton.
This Kelly woman means business. She's was 'doing' two generals. No mere colonels or majors need apply.
Yea, go for the jugglur. Hit the generals and your good to go.
Ordinarily, it would be just a matter of a married guy getting a piece of strange on the side. But the difference here is that people die for Petraeus. He sends people to war and they die, while Petraeus is here cheating on his wife. It just doesn't feel right. I sort of think that someone with the power to send men and women to make the ultimate sacrifice could at least keep his "johnson" in his pants and stay faithful to his wife. It's amazing to me what the most powerful people are willing to give up for a fling with another woman. Men like President Clinton, Governor Elliot Spitzer of NY, former Governor Sanford of South Carolina, and John Edwards, just to mention a few. This subject would be worthy of a book just to analyze why such men, whose judgment we trust so much as to place them in positions of great power, are willing to risk it all for a fling.
But back to Petraeus, the former head of the CIA, we have to consider the possibility of whether this guy, when he was literally in bed with his paramour, who happened to be his own biographer, may have said something to her that may have jeapordized national security. So this is a very serious matter, going far beyond simple marital infidelity.
So what? Getting laid doesn't make him a worse general. If he's going to tell secrets in bed, he's just as likely to tell them anywhere else.
It's sex. Get over it.
A bit of advice on getting some "strange". Keep a lid over your head and keep a sock in your mouth.
Smoke and mirrors...once again the media and the Republicans have you talking about something besides the economy.
"Republicans"??? It's Sen. Feinstein, a Democrat, that is all over getting answers about this.
Our enemies don't need guns and bombs, all they need are seductive women to take over our country.
It is appalling how low some people will go for a piece of a**.
To risk their countries security and to loose it all for a few seconds of pleasure.
If these men have no care for the security of their own families, then why would they for the men and women that risk their lives everyday for the USA.
Where has dignity, honor, respect, the love of family and country gone.
They should be held accountable and be demoted and loose the security of their retirement.
It is time to take sever action and stop slapping hands.
Look at the cost of these investigations which are on the American tax payers.
Make them pay for any and all expenses.
After all , they are the ones that caused this problem for all.
Wives...show no mercy.
If the emails hadn't come out...would the affair(s)/still be going on...probably!
Only after an adulterer is caught do they fell remorse.
Their actions are by choice.
Off with their heads...both.
God help us all!
God Bless The USA
How did he risk our security? How did he lose it?
Off with YOUR head. There's nothing as dangerous as an old, frustrated virgin who's jealous of people having sex, and going off the deep end because of it.
I didn't hear it sneeze. I think that was just your sexual frustration exploding out your ears.
@ -God
Did you say you were a frustrated virgin.
Oh, you must be an adulterer to speak as you do.
God Bless You and have a wonderful day.
No. That's part of your problem. You're stupid.
There is no god. You have a wonderful day, too.
god - (it's been awhile since we last spoke. How's Moses?).
how did the director of the CIA risk our security? he left his personal email account vulnerable to cyber hacking by some folks who dont like us very much. what's the big deal? No nuclear secrets in there, of course. But maybe travel plans? family and friends contact info? Whereabouts of high level military and government officials? A freeking gold mine to cyber hackers!!!! Things that put him in jeopardy of being blackmailed. Loved ones identified, found and held hostage, or any number of other vulnerabilities. Ya think any terrorists might be a little upset about GITMO? and maybe want their comrades released? willing to kidnap a Petraeus family member or two, if only they could track down their location. C'mon god, for your sake.
Drunk, as usual.
That's not sex, and has nothing to do with it. His email was vulnerable even without the affair, not because of it.
Grow up. He's human. Sex happens.
god - For being omnipotent, your security clearance level seems to be Nick at Nite. of course his email was vulnerable without the affair. He is one of the largest fish in the sea for cyber hackers. That is why it is an absolute non-starter for the D/CIA to share a personal email account with anyone else on the planet, especially someone who ends up taking email addresses from the contacts and sends them threatening messages. Still going with the theory that the affair had nothing to do with it? if it was the local wal-mart greeter having the affair and sharing his email account, or even retired GEN P hanging out in Fort Living Room, it would be no big deal, but when it's the Director of the CIA whose account is jeopardized, it ratchets the stakes up just a little. I would expect you, the all knowing, to understand this, but since you obviously don't, I'm sure glad that there are those who do. Amen and tell my grandma I said hello.
There's something darker and more sinister going on here then an extramarital affair.
ya think?
...
This is all right wing propaganda.
Just trying to discredit the president's army generals.
This will not work.
The truth will come out and the president and the generals will be vindicated.
.
Joe Biden in 2012.
...
Do you mean Joe Biden in 2016 ?
If you believe in God then you have to acknowledge the power of sex it involves more then just procreation.
If you believe in god you believe a lot of other crazy sh!t, too, which makes you unreliable to begin with.
And you're goddamn right about it being more than procreation... it's FUN!!!
You should try it sometime. Without the bible in your hand and with the lights on (although that might kill the mood for your partner).
Isn't it time for you to be at the bus stop for school.
God Bless
No, I finished school, That's why I'm smarter than you.
And that was my dog sneezing, not me, but thanks anyway.
-god, you are truly one of those special people that can be so proficient with words, yet be able to say nothing.
Who gives a dam ! Leave these people alone. If anybody had there job you being doing a lot more. Leave Allen alone to do his job. Reinstate David Petraeus who a great injustice has been brought upon him.
Reinstate? he quit, wasn't fired. HE DOESN'T WANT THE JOB!!!!!!
The sexual shenanigans that take place in the military is well known to anyone who has any association to the military and it has been going on for decades if not forever. Despite integration, women in the military and acceptance of gays, the military remains an essentially macho power driven environment because its core mission is to be powerful. Military commands do not need "volunteer" social hosts or coordinators so I am not the least surprised that there would be other associations between Kelley and members of the military command.
Should people lose their jobs because of this if there was no breach of security? No, but that is not acceptable in this moralistic hypocritical culture. They should however lose their jobs for gross stupidity if they left an email trail since that indicates they are too dumb to know that anything that hits the internet is almost always traceable and never is really destroyed.
If this was a moralistic hypocritical culture there wouldn't be Gays and lesbians teaching our children and in positions of power anywhere.
After the comment that Broadwell made in a speech she gave, about the CIA having prisoners in Benghazi, now I understand why they didn't call it a terrorist attack. The attack was to free the prisoners or to retaliate for them being held. CIA could be in bigger trouble for this and if the white house knew about it, Obama will be too.
It is important that these military leaders accept the responsibility and punishment for their actions. However, it is equally as important the women involved in this receive and accept full responsibility for their role in this wrong doing.
Ha! When has a female ever accepted responsibility for something like this?
From the movie As Good As It Gets. . .
Secretary to Jack Nicholson's Character: "How do you write about women so well?"
Jack Nicholson: "I think of a man, then I take away logic and accountability."