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Ethan Miller / Getty Images file
Radio talk show host Bubba the Love Sponge, the performing name used by Todd Alan Clem, is shown attending the Adult Video News Awards Show on Jan. 12, 2008, in Las Vegas.
When a Florida shock jock threatened to "deep fat fry" a Quran earlier this year, Gen. John Allen, the commander of U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan, and CIA Director David Petraeus both reached out to Tampa socialite Jill Kelley to help tamp down what they saw as a potential threat to the safety of U.S. troops, according to emails released by the city of Tampa.
In the emails, Kelley -- indicating she was acting at the behest of the high level U.S. government officials -- asked Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn to intervene and get the radio disc jockey to stand down.
"I have Petraeus & Allen both emailing me about getting this dealt with," Kelley wrote to Buckhorn in a March 7 email. The day before, Kelley mentioned similar requests to Buckhorn from both Allen and Vice Adm. Robert Harward, deputy commander of the U.S. Central Command in Tampa. "I just got off the phone with Gen. Allen & Adm Harward," she wrote. "I'm going to need your assistance, vice versa with the potential crises we'll be dealing with."
The emails offer a new glimpse at Kelley's relations with top U.S. military officials -- as well as Petraeus, who had by then left the military to take the helm at the CIA -- shortly before she went to an FBI agent to complain about anonymous harassing emails she was receiving. The resulting FBI probe into what was initially viewed as a potential case of "cyber-stalking" led to Petraeus’ resignation as CIA director and triggered a separate investigation by the Pentagon inspector general into what has been described as "potentially inappropriate" email correspondence between Allen and Kelley.
Numerous government and law enforcement officials have told NBC News that the FBI investigation revealed that Petraeus' biographer, Paula Broadwell, had sent the threatening emails and that agents subsequently uncovered evidence that she had an extramarital affair with Petraeus.
Newer emails to Buckhorn also show Kelley's anxiety as the scandal broke last week and the media descended on her home.
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Jill Kelley leaves her Tampa, Fla., home on Tuesday.
"Can you help out with obstruction by the paparazzi, since they're blocking our driveway, and continue to trespass on my property," she wrote Buckhorn on Tuesday. "My kids are scared and need their 'home' back."
In other emails to Buckhorn, Kelley referred to numerous social events with generals from Central Command – and referred repeatedly to Petraeus and others. One also described a post-election visit to the White House, just before the scandal broke.
"ps I'll be in DC this weekend with Petraeus, but let's set up a double date when I return!" she wrote to Buckhorn on Oct. 9, 2011. The next day, she added, "I'll be sure to send the Director your regards --should be another fabulous weekend in DC."
On Nov. 24, 2011, she wrote: "We just got back from spending the weekend with the Petraeus (it was Dave's 59th Birthday) and he said to send you his best! :) "
On Jan. 13 of this year, she wrote to an aide to Buckhorn: “I’m up in DC having dinner tonight with Gen. Petraeus and Gen. John Allen (he replaced Petraeus as the Commander in Afghanistan.)”
The email correspondence included an effusive account of a dinner with the king of Jordan, Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein. “The King and his sister (the Princess) are awesome people!” Kelley wrote to the mayor on May 16, 2011.
Kelley also sent a formal invitation to a party in her honor at the U.S. Central Command on April 19 -- forwarded by Centcom's chief of protocol.
"Vice Admiral Robert S. Harward, Deputy Commander, United States Central Command request the pleasure of your company at a ceremony in honor of Mrs. Jill Kelley," the invitation reads in part.
A military source said the party honoring Kelley was to formally give her the title of "Honorary Ambassador to the Coalition" -- a certificate given to private citizens who are "friends" of the base. Kelley used the title in her later email correspondence: "Today, I will be hosting a group of VIPs visiting from Afghanistan Pakistan Nepal, here by the authority of the State Department," she wrote Buckhorn on May 14. "As the Ambassador to the Coalition, I will taking them to Centcom with the great assistance of Gen. Mattis & Adm Harward." (Marine Gen. James Mattis is the commander of U.S. Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base.)
Broadwell, Kelley both were repeat White House visitors, official says
Kelley’s access to the military elite continued right up to this month. On Nov. 8 — just a day before Petraeus resigned as CIA director -- she emailed Buckhorn: “I was at the WH with my friends in the Administration this weekend—the stress was surreal! But glad POTUS has been re-elected!”
Kelley's emails referring to the comments about burning the Quran by the Tampa shock jock, known as "Bubba the Love Sponge Clem," reflected a genuine concern among U.S. military officials that they would endanger U.S. troops, a U.S. military official told NBC News. At the time, there were riots and deaths in Afghanistan over the burning of Qurans by U.S. soldiers.
"It was absolutely a concern," Lt. Col. T.G. Taylor, CentCom spokesman, said in an interview. Taylor said he personally called the disc jockey and told him, "Look Bubba, somebody's going to get hurt if you do this." He was "completely reasonable and said he understood," Taylor added.
Buckhorn, the Tampa mayor, told Kelley when she emailed about the issue that the city's police chief was handling the matter, but added: "This Bubba the Love Sponge is a complete moron."
For his part, the disc jockey told the Tampa Bay Times that he abandoned his plans to “deep fat fry” a copy of the Quran, the Muslim holy book, at the request of local law enforcement and credited Kelley’s role: “Probably she did get Intel to have me stop it, and that’s the problem itself,” he said.
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My dad Patrick Bevis is a Navy SEAL. He lives in lewistown montana and you can add him on face book and he will tell the truth about all of this
If I were your dad, I wouldn't be to thrilled about that information being sent out for the whole world to see...
In the future, please try to think things through a little more.
- Machinery Repairman 2nd Class, USN 85-91
Now we all know how the 1% sway the government to benefit themselves. She does a favor for them and they do favors for her. Our leaders get input from people who are out of touch with reality, while they should be listening to people who work and have to balance their own checkbooks!
Bubba who?? Who's this Bubba character? Never heard of him before.....
Just what IS her function anyway?? She is weaving in and out of military power like she is their sister or something. Is she a lawyer, diplomat, scholar.?.....what? As a result of this twitty woman running all over the place with no apparent means of support...one man is down for the count. Generals need to keep the rich twits home where they belong.
Just wait a few months.....either BRAVO or A&E will give the socialite a reality show and hundreds of thousands of dollars simply to profit off of a manufactured and entirely inconsequential celebrity.
Jon & Kate, the Kardashians, Honey Boo Boo, the Real Housewives of Wherever.....this 'reality' sickness is pervasive and our appetite apparently insatiable.
As for me, I'd rather watch paint dry.
The twins are too old and used up looking for a reality show. They dress like dollar store Kardashians.
Whore-able Deplorable Snore-able.
Man this tabloid is getting old, but should die soon hopefully. Kelley's email is the gift that keeps on giving.
This broad is delusional.
And what's with the frequent trips to D.C.? Meetings probably. She does have something spy-like going on. Her social skills can't be that amazing. The exclamation points in her emails (fluffy) don't match that super-hard look on her face the last few days. I think there's more going on with Mayor Buckhorn, too. Apparently he's smitten with her (who cares) and she's playing it, but also, in the P.S. she says she's going to D.C. and will give Petraeus Buckhorn's regards. Socially correct? Does she reel off a who's-who of greetings every time she's in D.C.? Does Petraeus own a home in Tampa, or is he there on business? His relationship with her seems to pre-date his C.I.A. position.
Something is awful, awful fishy here beyond what's between this chick's legs. Putting everything together that is thus far public (and we all know there's more --- we're just not privy to it ------ yet...), I don't trust these high-end government people. They have gone way beyond what they should have been doing to keep things tight and secure. What is going on up there in top government and military ranks anway ---- they act like this is some type of game where they can play house with what we entrust them to keep sacred and secure.
The next thing you know, this chick will be found to have been participating in war decisions in the Middle East! This is getting out of hand, and when all is said and done, these trusted servants better be held accountable. And this ex-CIA top dog has gone beyond just getting a piece of arse on the side. Kick all their arses and hard. With regards to these two woman ---- they must be really good in the sack to be able to get this close and this involved in our government affairs. Can we all have a piece of what they got???
She's probably a CIA operative, and they're doing their best to just keep it personal. Maybe they did have something professional going on, and Broadwell being part of it, how pathetic - and UNprofessional - of her to repeatedly choose to intimidate Kelly anonymously. That sure blew up in her face.
A lebanese spy. Just in time to distract the US from Iran, Hezbollah and Palestinians hitting Israel to buy time for Iran's nuclear program.
Paula Broadwell is a closet case who is half bald and has breast implants. Why would an Academy graduate and PhD need breast implants?
Our highest levels of government, reaching out to some slimey non connected woman to squeeze a city mayor to squash a radio host called Bubba the Love Sponge... Our world.
General Petraeus, plots within plots, something here does not add up ....... As our soldiers are taught, this is my weapon and this is my gun.......... What is the real story, was Paula Broadwell wise to something that Jill Kelley was doing, and she warned her to back off........... But did Jill Kelley have something on her dress after leaving the White House that gave her leverage.................. Then a type of pervert doing an investigation for the FBI; being Agent Humphries (An Inspector Closeau from the Pink Panther) announces to Jill Kelley he is available in sending a half nude picture of himself to her.................. Is this a syndicated Brothel in the real world, with a direct line to Tehran......
It seems having FBI involvement; at the least a Conflict of Interest, and a possibly Conspiracy against U.S. National Security................. This whole thing smells to "High Heaven" as it begins to unravel........ Then General Allen is caught with his pants undone...................... Who else is going to pop up in this situation, Pres. George Bush and Sec. Rumsfeld sharing a bottle of Jim Beam....... Why did Peters Sellers pass away so soon, this would have made a terrific comedy movie.
Nothing like trailer trash, and I'm refering to all the participants, generals, their mistresses, adulterers, being headline news.
I just wish 102.5 would play music. They were our only source for 70s-80s-90s music before switching to all talk, all B.S. Clear Channel radio has been awful for the last 10 years, war music rotation. When a friend left the state for vacation he commented how good radio is in other states. In Tampa our radio sucks, the music is repeated daily. The selection is less and less, the same **** different day. I wish somebody would realize the empty void we have for music here in Tampa, start a radio station like 95YNF, start promoting bands and rock and roll music again. If I wanted drama I would pick up a copy of Enquirer.
General this that, Mrs super tits, Bubba the loud mouth. All nonsense. Get me Taylor Swift, on air, stat.
If people wanted music and... Taylor Swift... there would be advertisers and radio stations. No one supports it except in huge markets where you can support a station with a tiny piece of the population who still own a radio.
Used to live in Florida. NEVER thought I'd see "Bubba the Love Sponge" on the front page of the NBCnews website...
especially next to the names of David Petraeus and John Allen.
Is that the ho that has been sucking on President Stinky's (BO) TonyD? Does that fat-bottomed Moochie he's married to watch? Participate? How about the girls? They in there too?
Filthy comment. you had better hope no one finds out who you are. Some one dig for this pig
This woman watched Charlie Wilson's War one too many times and fancies herself in the Julia Roberts role, the difference is that the woman in the movie really wasn't a social climber, she didn't need to be, this woman is and wants everyone to know how important she is. YAWN.....
...oh, thank goodness! i thought the article was about her keeping bill clinton quiet!
I think there used to be a song about " Bring on the clowns". You couldn't write a better cast of characters or plot.
Too bad the Main Stream Media doesn't apply this level of "digging" to vetting Democrat presidential candidates or to the vast amount of scandal in the subsequent administration of said candidates.
Bubba missed a prime opportunity here...This woman is totally hot... setting aside the fact that morally, she is a gold-digging whore.
Bubba: "So, you want me to reconsider about deep frying the Koran?"
Jill: "Yes. The top brass at the Pentagon have requested that I negotiate with you to get this matter closed."
Bubba: "Well, I believe we can make that happen with further negotiations at the local Holiday Inn. So, are you really prepared to sacrifice all for the boy's, Jill?"
Can't that guy think of something more appropriate for a moniker?
I remember when a love sponge was a not-very-predictable birth control device.
On the other hand, who cares? Just another meatball rolling through the sauce of life.
Sadly, the Kelly and Broadwell women got exactly what they live for: attention.
Next, their books and interviews with Pierce Morgan etc. Time to switch channels.
I'm waiting for the spread in Playboy, or better yet, Hustler. LOL!
Just goes to show that you can still "sleep" your way to the top. Apparently Petraus and Allen never heard the "Don't lose your head (your job, your respect, your family) over a piece of tail" ditty.
Did Jill Kelley sleep with someone and you are the only one that knows it?