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Subscribe to RSSNBC's Andrea Mitchell has new details about why Jill Kelley, one of the women at the center of the scandal involving Gen. David Petraeus, initially approached an FBI agent.
At least one anonymous email sent to Gen. John Allen, commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, was among those turned over by Tampa, Fla., socialite Jill Kelley to the FBI in June, a senior law enforcement official and a source close to Kelley tell NBC News. Kelley’s complaint to an FBI agent with whom she was acquainted triggered the investigation that ultimately led to the resignation of CIA Director David Petraeus.
The law enforcement official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Wednesday that Kelley turned over fewer than a dozen emails to the FBI agent, including at least one that Allen had received and forwarded to her. The emails were ultimately traced to Paula Broadwell, Petraeus’ biographer and the woman with whom he had an extramarital affair, multiple government and law enforcement officials have told NBC News.
The official said it is not clear who received email from Broadwell first -- Kelley or Allen – but a person close to Kelley told NBC News on Wednesday that Allen received the first email in mid-May. According to the source, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, the email sent from an account called "kellypatrol" said , in essence, “Beware of Jill Kelley. She's the kind of person who could ruin you.” It also referred to a meeting Kelley and her husband were planning in Washington with Allen, the source said.
Allen forwarded the e-mail to Kelley, thinking it was a joke from her. She replied that she hadn’t sent it, the source said.
The law enforcement official said Allen also forwarded the email to a “military authority” within the Department of Defense. The official did not specify which office or individual was notified.
Kelley herself began receiving similar emails in early June, the source close to her said, sent from four or five alias accounts. They contained words to the effect of, “What kind of person are you.” And passages directed to her husband, asked, in essence, “Do you know what your wife is up to?” the source said.
As reported previously by NBC News, Kelley took the emails – including at least one from Allen – to the FBI agent she knew because they made reference to meetings she had planned with both Allen and Petraeus, the source said. Kelley wondered why an anonymous e-mailer would know that kind of detail and became concerned that someone was cyberstalking her or hacking into her e-mails, the person said.
Federal officials confirmed Wednesday that the agent who first took the complaint from Kelley is Frederick Humphries, a counter-terrorism agent who worked on the millennium bomb plot case. His name was first revealed by the New York Times.
-- / AFP - Getty Images
Tampa, Fla., socialite Jill Kelley, left, inadvertently triggered the FBI investigation of CIA Director David Petraeus by turning over anonymous threatening emails -- including one sent to Gen. John Allen -- to the FBI.
A senior defense official, also speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that Allen had received an anonymous email “some time ago” warning him to be careful around Kelley. The official, who had not seen the email but was generally familiar with its contents, said the general forwarded it to “proper authorities” within the military.
“He did the right thing,” the official said.
The defense official confirmed that the email also was forwarded to Kelley and her husband, Scott, but said it was not certain that Allen was the one who sent it to them. Allen did send Kelley an email referencing the anonymous note he had received, the official said.
The source close to Kelley and several law enforcement officials tell NBC News that Broadwell used multiple anonymous accounts to send the emails to Kelley and Allen. She “covered her tracks” by sending them from cybercafés, the source said.
ISAF via Reuters file
Meet the people who have been pulled into the scandal that caused Gen. David Petraeus to resign.
Meanwhile, defense officials tell NBC News that while there is no evidence that Allen and Jill Kelley engaged in an extramarital affair, there was enough “inappropriate” language in emails they exchanged to warrant an investigation by the Pentagon’s inspector general.
According to one official, who like the others spoke on condition of anonymity, a small number of emails contained language that could be considered “inappropriate” or even “suggestive.”
But even without those, an investigation of the email correspondence between Allen and Kelley was inevitable given the circumstances, the officials said.
“We had no idea what was going on,” one said. “The last thing we want is to be accused of a cover-up,” regarding the Allen emails.
Courtney Kube and Mike Brunker of NBC News contributed to this report.
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What's more outrageous: that Jill Kelley tried to invoke honorary diplomatic immunity or that she used a 911 call to create an audition tape for her own Bravo show? In other news, the Obama Administration is moving quickly to name Petraeus’ successor, and the FluffingtonPost has the funny exclusive details:
I think the one thing that emerges from all of this is that Jill Kelley is an utter idiot, and is in fact, the kind of person who can ruin you. Looks like the emails were right about that if nothing else, though Broadwell was quite an idiot herself for thinking she could get away with starting this whole chain of events without it going nuclear back in her face.
And the generals are quite the morons themselves, too horny and too greedy to see how these extramarital affairs would ruin everything they've worked their entire careers to earn.
Funny how all this jealous drama between two mistresses was enough to reach into and bring down officials in the highest levels of the federal government and the military. They all deserve their own TLC reality show. Amazing.
Not to mention the fact that after she gave the emails to the FBI, she realized that they might have unintended consequences on people's careers so she tried to stop the FBI from continuing the investigation but by then, it was too late.
I can only imagine how that conversation went...
FBI: Hello, you've reached the FBI, how can we help you?
Kelley: Well, not long ago I gave the FBI several emails because I felt threatened which contained the names of some top Generals, one of which is the Director of the CIA...and well, I've changed my mind...there is no reason for you to pursue the investigation anymore.
FBI: We know who you are...are you referring to the emails you sent from some anonymous sender that had knowledge of classified schedules of meetings of the Director of the CIA and General Allen that no one should know about because daily schedules of high ranking officials are classified? Or are you referring to the shirtless photo that one of our FBI agents sent you?
Kelley: Um...the first one...the ones with details of the classified schedules...just forget I ever sent those...mmmm...Ok?
FBI: Not going to happen. Oh, and our agent wants to know if you want any more photos?
What a waste.
We have people in uniform, defending this country . . . and generals have time for this nonsense?
really?
REALLY?
Yes, these supposed "great leaders" of our troops, of which many are in harm's way, are in actuality spending their time playing pussy foot with the ladies.
In reality, our so called emperors wear no clothes.
Defending this country? Dunno. They went to Afghanistan to get Osama Bin Laden. He's gotten. The rest is mostly the obligatory "We're here to help you poor backwards people" stuff.
So I guess the ensuing shenanigans shouldn't come as a huge shock.
I don't know. So far it seems like Kelley did nothing wrong. If you are friends with a couple of high ranking generals and you start receiving threatening emails mentioning them, and one of them gets a crazy email about you, I would think the smart thing to do would be to go to the FBI, especially if you haven't done anything wrong. If she was, in fact, having an affair with Allen and/or Petraeus, then yes, she's a complete idiot for going to the FBI. Broadwell is the one that comes out as a stupid, obsessed nut.
The emails were not described as being "threatening", but harassing.
The FBI does not get involved with harassing emails, at least not for us regular folk.
Did Kelley's position warrant an investigation by the FBI? Probably not.
When the harassing emails refer to high level generals and show knowledge of those generals' activities, and one is also sent to one of those generals, then yeah I think it warrants the FBI getting involved.
Whether or not Kelley & Allen were friendly or not is no reason for the media making such a big story out of her. Broadwell is the psycho bitch who harassed the two of them. Broadwell was the other woman of the head of the CIA. Broadwell is the one with classified information in her home. And Broadwell is the reason why Petraeus had to resign. So far, Kelley's PR consultant isn't doing a very good job by her. And Broadwell is getting off pretty easy at the moment.
What We Don't Know About the Petraeus Scandal: Questions for the FBI
By Emily Bazelon
Posted Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012, at 12:19 PM ET
"1) Why did Jill Kelley's complaint launch an investigation in the first place? She got a half-dozen or so anonymous emails that everyone is calling "harassing." But from what we know so far, the messages don't sound alarming or threatening. From a Daily Beast source: "More like, 'Who do you think you are? … You parade around the base … You need to take it down a notch.'" From the Wall Street Journal: "One asked if Ms. Kelley's husband was aware of her actions, according to officials. In another, the anonymous writer claimed to have watched Ms. Kelley touching 'him' provocatively underneath a table, the officials said."
That was seriously enough to get the FBI involved? My reporting on cyberbullying tells me that if Kelley had gone to the cops in any decent-sized city, they'd have told her politely not to worry about it. And that's as it should be: Without anything like an explicit threat—and without any direct reference whatsoever to Petraeus or anyone else in a sensitive position of power—why should law enforcement pry with so little reason to think a crime has been committed? Stalking and harassment are broad charges, sure, and that can cause problems. But those statutes shouldn't trigger an investigation based on so little evidence. We now know, of course, that the FBI agent Kelley complained to has been accused of sending shirtless photos of himself to her. He's now himself under investigation. If he got this all rolling to show off to Kelley or to court her, then that is the real scandal. Even if you don't know much J. Edgar Hoover history, you can see that this is not what the power of the FBI is for. Maybe there is more to justify the FBI's entry: I'd like to know what persuaded the cybercrimes unit Mr. Shirtless informed to take the next step."
This is not a new story. All the people griping and trying to make a big deal out of this are the same ones that were horrified at the prospect of "don't ask, don't tell", and any suggestion that our troops might seek any sort of physical relations. Unless you're prepared to have our troops pledge celibacy when they sign on, I don't feel that we can ask them to maintain a higher standard than the general population when it comes to sexual relations. Frumpy old women are the biggest complainers, which is why they get cheated on the most.
Why do all the military guys look like they came from "Revenge of the Nerds" ?
And why do all the women involved look like slutty cheerleaders?
Can't the FBI have a shirtless calendar or something? They could raise money to help the deficit instead of flashing for free all over the internet.
I think the Marine General is getting screwed on this, and enough is enough. He passed on the email to the proper authorities, let him get on with his career. He didn't get to that rank in the Marine Corp unless the man is pretty squared away. There is nothing but inuendo and it shouldn't ruin his career as for Petraeus and Broadwell they will have the stigma and embarrassment as well as the book deals. Kelly was a military groupie is what it sounds like. Right now we have the "fiscal cliff" remember lets get on to something important.
I disagree. All that's clear at this point is that Allen denies any improper relationship with Kelley. He CLAIMS there's nothing going on. Fine. But clearly Broadwell, and probably by extension Petraeus, believed that something improper was going on between Allen and Kelley.
He claims he's innocent. He may well be. But let's see what the investigation into Allen finds out, shall we? Allen, unlike Petraeus, is still on active duty and adultery is not looked upon well in the military (putting it mildly).
Jill Kelley is as skanky as her mooching sister. They are definitely not to be trusted. Paula Broadwell was smart enough to spot that the Lebanese twins were nothing but trouble. Allen should have heeded the anonymous email's advice; steer clear of Kelley.
The law enforcement official said Allen also forwarded the email to a “military authority” within the Department of Defense.
That said, I wonder what the DoD investigation was like since that would be independent of the FBI.
Maybe the Marine General will have to take the stand, be questioned by a maverick JAG officer, and then shout "You want the truth? You can't handle the truth!"
Jeanette,
Broadwell wasn't smart at all. She got jealous of somebody even though she had no idea what Kelley was up to and went crazy, sending emails from new accounts from what she believed were anonymous locations. Since she was sending those emails to somebody who apparently wasn't really up to anything and was willing to take the matter to the FBI, it all blew up on her, and cost her lover his career - and probably she's probably not getting him any more either.
I for one am getting very bored with this soap opera.
Boredom is the main reason why people cheat on their partners........
Allen should be off the hook. Proceed with his confirmation hearings.
Sounds to me like Broadwell was jealous of Kelley and was a cyberbully. I am disheartened the boys they were fighting over actually took time to play along in their game. We younger generation have seen this quite a bit growing up on AOL or Yahoo chatrooms or on Facebook. I am very disappointed and shocked that higher ups in the military and government conduct themselves the same way or worse than high school kids. Are their any adults left in the world?
BUT WAIT~~ Could this just be another Distraction to smoke the media and box people off the post election moves by the man in the white house ??
→ Red herring ←
Forced infidelity?
Yes warren, the President got his CIA director, his ISAF commander, and two married women to completely RUIN their careers and reputations and he utterly destroyed FOUR families in order to get people's minds off... well, what exactly? Benghazi? Nope, Petraeus is deep in the middle of that and will be testifying tomorrow. The fiscal cliff? What kind of "moves" could Obama be making regarding the fiscal cliff that require this level of smokescreen? He's actually been quite clear about where he stands on the fiscal cliff issue and the shady stances of congressional republicans.
Your tin foil hat is showing there, sparky.
@ forkchops.. Hey I never said the guberment was smart and what ever is in the wings probably has not seen light. I look for something to blow up during the holidays. All you have to do is watch the MONEY and things become clearer.
This is surely the long lost definition of legitimate rape that Mr Moron Akin was referring to. However, I detect international intrique here..... I see a "Lebanon Connection".... but for the time being we're all too pre-occuppied with who's unhooking whose bra to even think about what motivates these "bored socialites".
Meanwhile, while our troops were trying to call in some close air support, the brass was busy doing "All In" as in it's party time at the Kelly haus.
Lock and load!!!
Oh I see, so all you have to do is watch the MONEY and then completely absurd conspiracy theories that haven't been fleshed out to their logical conclusions suddenly become fact?
And here I thought you had posted a load of old rubbish, when in fact you are the only person who truly follows the MONEY around here and sees things clearly... sorry about that!
Thats what your conspiracy theories smell like...rotten herring
I’ve got tears in my eyes I laughing so hard! Thanks guys.
Something does not smell right about all this. Just a gut feeling but there is a lot of changing of the guard going on all the sudden. I smell BS.
Note to everyone who can read this: There is no such thing as an anonymous email.
If the President compromises on issues then he is most certainly a flip-flopper and
if the President Stands by his promise then he is a dictator.
You could not please some people if you hung them with a new rope. ← there is a message in this ..
Apparently concealed within a dessicated aphorism.
denver bill 2
can you help me out. I got a headache looking up the words you used. thanks for the lesson ..
I don't know about anyone else but I love a good catfight among the filthy rich or even the filthy poor. Of course it took down the head of the CIA, for a good reason, and a good General who just does't seem, at least at this point, to be able to keep it zipped and I don't mean his lip. General Petraeus got bopped because of the boffing that might have led to classified information being disclosed, regardless of whether it was or not. General Allen having his promotion to command SHAFE put on hold is a death sentence to his career.
At least this keeps the Kardashians, famous for being famous for being famous for being trailer trash, off our minds after all. When this blows over in a few weeks we'll have to put up with news about those self-promoting idiots again. Then life will be well, the stock market will go up, people will know that even though indexes is a proper word, indicies is the proper verb and people all over the world will love each other.
And alan-static will still be posting.
Why make a big deal over these two broads all they wanted was publicity ::::The Democrats support Gays,jet they want to hang people for getting a little on the side, remember Clinton ?????? The White House People need to clean up their act . Washington DC has always been known as biggest whore house in the US .Leave the General Alone.
Well told. This has nothing to do anything real, it's all chaff and smoke to keep us off the massacre in Benghazi.
The media is now an active player in this disinfo operation and NBC is a major asset.
Keep your eyes on the ball - The real story is 4 Americans who were ignored to death in Benghazi by the 0bama administration.
Ignored to death by 0bama and ignored in death by the media.
Paula is a real stalker.
If General Allen has enough time on his hands to send 25,000 to 30,000 emails to some Honorary NO ONE in 2 years time, he needs to be demoted and put out to pasture , there IS no two ways about it , we have troops in harms way, and he's sending cute emails to some socialite in Florida ? HELLOooooooooooooooooo
General Petraeus, well he's toast, I don't care what they did in past years service, bust e'm lets get more email accounts looked into , what in h ell is going on in the Military now a days ?
Honorary Diplomats.... baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahahahah surely YOU JEST !
The military has shown that they need a downsizing,. they are trying to retain their huge portion of the pie in light of the two longterm money draining wars are ending. Unless McCain can find someone else to invade, massive cuts are in order. When the country is being forced to fund equipment the military doesn't want or need, it's time for a massive overhaul. Right now the main responsibility is to those injured during the last ten years. Now a new expensive and questions weapon system.
"passages directed to her husband, asked, in essence, “Do you know what your wife is up to?” the source said"
One could asked Paula's husband the same question.
I was a military brat back in the mid sixties and this exact same thing went on back then. Socialites entertaining the military brass. It was a two way street, the brass got social exposure to civilian leaders (Mayors, etc which was a good thing) and everyone had a good time at the parties. I witnessed as a child, first hand, that the "socialite" I was aware of, was frankly, as I know now (but didn't know then) a sexual predator for whom POWER was aphrodisiac..
Later as a Naval Officer, I saw the socialites entertain and smooze and promote congenial interactions with the civilian community and the military. As a Naval Officer I was never aware of any inproprities, but I was not really invited to these "high-end big brass parties". But I do know it happens and can be constructive. BUT , I saw as a child it can also be very destructive.. . to both the "socailite" and the people they prey upon. Sad. Hope Petreaous and Allen read this.
Two sayanim cannot control their jealousy, and thus Israel loses to high level spies. I guess it is a win for the USA.
This Jill Kelley is nothing but a two-bit whore. She's married to a surgeon and massively in debt. Sounds like a winner to me!
The Oxford English Dictionary could easily post a photo of these Tampa socialite twins next to the phrase "toxic waste."
The only General that you can trust these days is General Motors...or General Electric...!!!!
More distraction and "chaff" from Obama's "tabloid" like media. Playing up the Petraeus and Allen investigations to divert attention from the Senate Benghazi Hearings. Impotent attempts to discredit Petraeus who's testimony potentially could turn into a Benghazi Gate nightmare for Obama and his administration.
Do you remember that President Bush was informed months in advance that Al'Qeda was determined to attack the homeland in 2001 and were you similarly outraged then?
Where's your proof and links to your assumptions?
So you don't think the head of the CIA spending his time chasing this person and not his responsibility to the intelligence community isn't an issue? no wonder they didn't know what was going on?
Maybe these military leaders should be removed from these positions.
After the many scandalous relations with prostitutes, the many idiot men who have been professionally and socially purged, you stupid flux in the jobs requiring responsibility and decency continue to whore around.
Fine. Dirty up your lives and give ammunition to hate mongers to include the United States in their accusations of US corruption. The impending fiscal cliff isn't enough, you aid our enemy toward their goal of America falls.
Warren the blockhead, did Obama instruct any of the Generals to stick it 'all in' in the wrong places? Again, someone has to remind some of these retards that it wouldn't be at least two years until there is the next elections and Obama won't be on the ballot. Find some other sport!
Good By S-amp-son Paw Paw is Love Bug, dont think of what PaPaw is doing or Thinking,Pound animal they did not think of there act. and I did not know there filth vil ways were of the eating every thing in sight for % of cents.
As I have said... two women jealously competing for attention evolves into a bitter fight for control. One boinking a high profile general, enjoying his company and the attention it brings. The other getting an honorary title of diplomatic consul, trying to use its influence, and having that title eventually called "just a title" and nothing more. One woman calling her FBI agent friend who gets involved... who then presses a congressman because it appears nothing is being down FAST enough?
Two powerful military leaders... suckered and one brought down by two competing and scheming women.
Its almost that simple.
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You're a F&%king IDIOT. End of STORY.