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Subscribe to RSSThe woman who triggered the investigation that led to the resignation of CIA chief David Petraeus threw lavish parties for top military brass – and also racked up debt. NBC's Kristen Welker reports.
The FBI agent who was asked by Jill Kelley to look into disturbing emails she received was a friend of hers and never had a further part in the investigation, a senior law enforcement official said Tuesday.
The official says the FBI agent had met Kelley many months before she complained to him about the threatening emails -- allegedly sent by Paula Broadwell, Gen. David Petraeus’ biographer and a woman with whom he is believed to have had an affair.
The agent sent Kelley a photo of himself with no shirt, "as a joke, a gag" at least six months before she began receiving the troubling emails, the official said. There is, the official said, no indication that the relationship between the two was anything more than a friendship.
But the official says that after Kelley came to the agent with her complaint, he faded from the picture and was not in on the investigation. Then agents discovered the shirtless photo in her e-mails, which was reported to his supervisors, resulting in an internal investigation into whether he acted inappropriately.
He's the same agent who contacted House Republicans in October to complain that the investigation was stalled. But, the official said, the agent was far out of the loop and had no idea all of the investigative activity still under way at that point.
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor’s office called the FBI on Oct. 31 asserting that it had heard from an FBI agent who raised concerns that the matter was being covered up or not being taken seriously.
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.
"I was contacted by an FBI employee concerned that sensitive, classified information may have been compromised and made certain (FBI Director Robert) Mueller was aware of these serious allegations and the potential risk to our national security,” Cantor said in a statement.
Cantor's office was told that the case was being actively investigated by the FBI, and so it would have been wrong for the FBI or Justice Department to inform higher-level officials in the administration about the probe earlier -- because they were unsure at that point what they were dealing with. In the end, according to multiple officials, investigators determined there was no criminal wrongdoing.
The agent provides yet another link to Kelley, who has become a central figure in the scandal that led to the resignation of Petraeus over his affair with Broadwell: Her complaint to the FBI kicked off the investigation, and her emails with another major military figure, Gen. John Allen, have led to an investigation over allegations of “inappropriate” emails between Allen and Kelley. Allen replaced Petraeus as commander in Afghanistan last year.
The emails between Allen and Kelley 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.
NBC News justice correspondent Pete Williams contributed to this report.
Ret. Col. Jack Jacobs weighs in on the scandal that has ensnared former CIA chief David Petraeus and Gen. John Allen, telling TODAY's Savannah Guthrie that Allen has a stellar career and great reputation but he "wouldn't be surprised" if his NATO nomination was withdrawn.
More content from NBCNews.com:
- Jill Kelley: The woman at the heart of a scandal
- FBI agent sent shirtless photos to Kelley, officials say
- ISAF commander Gen. John Allen under investigation over 'inappropriate' emails
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- Hearing loss the most prevalent injury among returning veterans
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Obviously, the generals had "Binders filled with Women" also.
That's too funny!
So we have have two great Generals careers in doubt because of this crusading, love struck FBI agent who remains unnamed. This idiot has done nothing but placed the security of this country into less capable hands. All this because of one fools infatuation with a married women. Unbelievable. He should be fired for being stupid!
What? No, Broadwell sent Kelley threatening emails, and THAT is what started this whole thing!
and the woman is ugly..she looks like a man dressed in women's clothes..ewww..whats the deal? and WHY do men EVER think they are going to have an affair and never get CAUGHT!????? Supid A**
30,000 pages of emails??? Come on, no one has the time to compose that much email. I suspect that 30,000 pages contains a lot of stuff that was simply forwarded: books, documents, joke of the day etc. And, when the FBI prints out email, I suspect that they use a really large font and attach a multi-page disclaimer to each and every email (something like: you'll go to hell if you disclose this email to China, Iraq, North Korea, or Congress).
I wouldn't be surprised that at the end of the day there is nothing more than a few hundred actual emails composed by the general. After all, this estimate was made by the people who value a bale of dope by calculating how much it would be worth if it were sold as individual joints. The FBI is good a pumping up charges to make things look good in the press, but the hype often isn't supported by the actual evidence.
What are they putting in that water in Washington, D.C.?? May I suggest salt-peter!
luckyboy, you need to get your head out of your arse, let's talk about the months of warning before 9-11 that the GOP ignored.
luckyboy, it's obvious that you have difficulty paying attention, since you can't stay on topic, but it is pretty obvious that this entire matter involved Republicans, from those involved through to those that had the information and eventually released it. How, pray tell, can you blame Obama for "trying to take the focus off" an incident that isn't remotely close to even Watergate? Oh, that's right...because you blame Obama for everything.
Why is the FBI agent who leaked this info to Cantor still employed? This so called "agent" should be charged with something and fired. These people need to start doing what they are being paid to do. If our intelligence apparatus has come down to whose the best tail gunner, then all is truly lost.
Generals, Directors, Punjabs-- you are all a bunch of clowns. We need to ask the French to send us a Guillotine or two.
We will always need a few good men---if there are still any left. Maybe we should only have women--let's give that a shot.
Maybe this is why there was such a delay in getting the votes counted in Florida; perhaps they were waiting for people to get out of bed!
Is everyone going crazy or what???? Is there any way we can get the Russian Security Service to maybe check into this for us?
Sad that a private act - was inflamed and brought the career of a really good (at least up to this point) man who accomplished so much for our country - was taken down by something so trivial. Their adultery act has been hurtful to and possibly will destroy 3 families - but the tattle tellers are just as doomed.
That FBI Agent will find out what bad Kharma really is now that everyone knows him as the "Shirtless FBI Agent"
What goes around comes around shirtless buddy!
Next - can we please have Ken Starr back so we can find out all the gory details - I have a feeling we will anyway. Please get your minds out of the gutter and move on.
Since when can a private citizen pick up the phone and get the FBI looking into cyber harassment?
She obviously is not your normal private citizen and this particular agent was looking for some personal service as a payback for his good deed. We should be investigatinbg that part as well. Did he have orders or was he initially just a rogue snoop.
It seems that the FBI agent wanted the same thing the General wanted a piece of the Kelly.
What kind of a joke is all this??? One horney guy gets caught and now it is up to the Rebuplicians to get to the bottom of it all!!! WHAT A FRIGGING JOKE !!!!!!!!! Why did the FBI guy call the Rebups in the first place. He did not know even what was going on.
The Repubs, as you call them, are looking into it because Obama and his followers are trying their darndest to make it all go away. They've been covering-up, lyingt, and miss-directing the entire nation for 2 months now.
Yeah, I am sure Obama wish this whole sordid affair would go away.
She should be grateful he even found her worth the effort of sending 'em, she looks like Chaz B0n0...
OMG...a shirtless picture!!!.................BFD
In a perverted sick and gay society, you get what you sow and this country today sows nothing but criminal governments, deviate ways and sex sales while your children are dying for criminal acts of government. Can't wait to see how much sex Obama and Hillary were having together. Mr, fornication Bill probably right in the middle. The gay Military Parade now the media tool for sick and perverted ways. Oh yes, the American society of conform to anything and everything wicked..Go O-Abomination, that should be our countries new name, Oh I forgot, Obama already said it's the New black America, may as well be O-Abomination..
Hey Chuck, 1442 called and wants its closed minded, homophobic, erotophobic, puritan ideas back.
Hey Chuck:
Chillax. Take your medication... soon.
Wonder what their kids would have looked like. My guess would be either a light skinned Steve Erkel or Ed Grimley....
Pup1, when you and chuck get over whining about losing the election and posting juvenile nonsense, perhaps you can learn how to reply to a post properly.
LOL.....funny.....
Pup1, yes, you would think it was funny because that's the extent of your ability.
It sounds from some reports that Ms. Kelley asked an FBI agent who was a 'friend' of hers to investigate the so-called harassing e-mails. Did she actually report it to the FBI as some reports are saying or did she just ask an FBI 'friend' to look at it. If it's really the latter the there is a possibility that this agent started his investigation on his own without the proper authorization and when discovered he went squealing to the congress for what he hoped might be a deal to protect himself as some sort of whistle-blower.
I'm concerned about just how frequently FBI 'agents' are abusing their positions in similar situations when and if a friend asks for help. We don't need rogue agents doing illegal searches and investigations on the basis of anything short of an order from their superiors and not because they may be infatuated with someone.
Ms. Kelley is coming across as some sort of higher class 'camp follower' as they used to be called. In the pop-rock scene they're groupies, and virtually every type of service group has them.
She asked her FBI "friend" to look into it....one of those "favors" that cunning woman use.
If this happened under Bush we'd be talking impeachment.
I have no doubt that Obummer and Axelgrease know something about all this but are taking a hands off approach and I know nothing statements. All quiet at the White House on this topic.
You know we have different behavioral tolerances for different political parties. Just ask Bill Clinton.
We would? And why would that be? Any idea what you are talking about? How can you impeach a president because somebody else, especially members of the other party, are screwing up? What impeachable offense is that? Geez.
So what did Obama do to deserve an impeachment here? Bush was a war criminal who lied to us all to get to war. If he didn't get impeached for that, I highly doubt he'd get impeached because one of his generals had an affair. You people crack me up with the never ending blaming of Obama for everything that happens in this county. Insecurities, ignorance and racism are not good qualities!
Reublican generals and Republican women are screwing around, and it's Obama's fault?
Thank GOD he was re-elected!
We'll get a more fair conclusion.
All under his watch my friends. He is responsible. You seem to forget this guy was the Director of the CIA. Even your own party is uncomfortable with the sequence of events not to mention the Benghazi incident. Hard to believe he knew nothing. And yeah, he'll have to take four more years if intense scrutiny like everyone else. Believe me he is no saint. Wait and watch.
You're not too bright eagle
Actually, Eagle, the FI has admitted that they did not inform the president. However, Eric Cantor WAS informed, in an apparent attempt to do what you right wingers keep trying to do (as evidenced by your posts), and that is to find some dirt on Obama. Given your reasoning, if it can be called that, Cantor should resign.
By the way, if you think everybody that managers others should be fired or whatever when any of their subordinates sleep around (note that the FBI says no crimes appear to have been committed), there won't be many managers around.
Give it up - you folks that keep trying to find something to "get" Obama with just come across as sore losers that are whining because you didn't get your way.
Steveo you're a legend in your own mind.
Yes i'm a legend in my own mind, and you think that if any gov't employee cheats on their spouse, that the president should be impeached. WOW, you're special.
Oh, and Left Wing Nut Job (perfect handle!) Obummer will dig his own hole. Wait and watch.
Ooh, you're really sharp there, going after my moniker. How long did you have to think about it? "Obummer" - you must be at least 12 years old. By the way, right wing trolls have been singing this mantra since Obama was elected. YOU wait and watch...and hold your breath while doing so. (In the meantime, I'm sure fine, productive folks like you will keep trying to think up something to "get" him with.)
So when is Kelley going to be in Playboy ?
Or Hustler.....
I can't believe it. Is our country full of dirt bags? The only women involved in this story are married. Two Generals and one FBI agents are all sending dirty emails to the same married women. Didn't there dad's tell them to let the big head do the thinking? This is a complete embarrassment for all men.
Muddy Waters in the "Fathers and Sons" album had it right; it's The Same Thing that makes a preacher lay his bible down.
Hey, "trouble"
Anyone who's kept us, knows that the Bengazi consulate was actually a CIA operation.
Two of the men killed were CIA operatives, not State Department employees.
Petraeus will testify; your side lost the election months ago through stupidity like yours.
Go wipe Trump's butt.
I've always said, the quickest way to defeat an enemy is NOT to send big, burly, hairy men in body armour but to send scantily clad women to do the job. Game over.
So very true.
In this case scantily clad he/shes. Don't know the age of the shirtless FBI agent but, the generals need a vision check.
They wanted to be in the Kelley Blew Book.
CIA director having affair, president screwing his intern, congressman Weiner texting pictures of his...well you know, congressman impregnating South American mistress while his wife is dying, SEC officials watching porn while the financial system collapses. Both sides are equally guilty and obviously feel they are above the law or any sort of moral compass that should pertain to officials that are supposed to be public servants.
And the band played on. ( Read in a deep baritone voice. )