Florida socialite Jill Kelley was as engrossed with top military commanders as they were with her, according to a batch of just-released
emails published by The Washington Post.
Kelley is the Tampa Bay hostess who triggered an investigation that eventually exposed the affair of CIA Director David H. Petraeus and author Paula Broadwell that led to his resignation and the early retirement of Marine Gen. John Allen, the commander of U.S. and NATO.
It was in 2012 that Kelley contacted the FBI to notify them she was receiving threatening emails from someone, who it would be learned later was Broadwell, Petraeus' mistress,
according to The Tampa Tribune.
The emails, which the Post obtained as part of a Freedom of Information request, detail
exchanges between Kelley and two top commanders: Marine Gen. James N. Mattis, then commander of all U.S. military forces in the Middle East, and his deputy, Vice Adm. Robert S. Harward.
While they do not provide further evidence of improper or illegal behavior, "taken together, the records depict two wartime commanders who were easy marks for the flattery of an exuberant socialite," says the Post.
In a January 2012 email, Kelley writes to Harward regarding a potential ambassadorial appointment, asking, “Sooooooooo…..Did you and Jim finally decide to make me your ‘official’ CentCom ambassador?????”
"Please! Please! Please! I always wanted to be an Ambassador, since I was made to be a ‘catalyst’ — that helps build or facilitate Foreign relations," the email continues.
"We’ll have to put you through the vetting process and interviews to ensure you have the right attributes!" responded Harward.
Kelley would get a more formal response when she was anointed "United States Central Command and Coalition Honorary Ambassador" on April 19.
As Kelley became more focused on her ambassadorial roles, she also grew more territorial and less flirtatious.
According to the Post, her emails "changed abruptly in early July 2012 after an unidentified NATO official informed her matter-of-factly that three other coalition ambassadors had been appointed and would be attending a French-sponsored Bastille Day party."
"Bob," she emailed Harward minutes later. "WHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT??? You never informed me of ‘3’ other Honorary Ambassadors??????"
The FBI concluded its investigation into the scandal in 2014.
The New York Times reported in January that the FBI and Justice Department lawyers recommended the retired general be prosecuted on felony charges of improperly disclosing classified information.
While Attorney General Eric Holder would not comment on whether charges were being considered, Republican Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina charged that the "investigation has been grievously mishandled," and that it was "outrageous" the recommendation had been leaked to the press.
"It is outrageous that the highly confidential and law enforcement-sensitive recommendation of prosecutors to bring charges against General Petraeus was leaked to The New York Times. It is a shameful continuation of a pattern in which leaks by unnamed sources have marred this investigation in contravention to fundamental fairness,"
the senators said in a joint statement.
A lawsuit against the FBI and Defense Department claiming they violated Kelley's privacy by releasing information about her to the press is ongoing.
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