Politics
Obama to hold first post-election press conference
In the course of looking into that matter, federal investigators came across what a Pentagon official called “inappropriate communications” between Allen and Kelley, both of them married.
A senior U.S. official told The Associated Press that other senior U.S. officials who read the emails determined that the exchanges between Allen and Kelley were not sexually explicit or seductive but included pet names such as “sweetheart” or “dear.” The official said that while much of the communication, including some from Allen to Kelley, is relatively innocuous, some could be construed as unprofessional and would cause a reasonable person to take notice.
That official and others who described the investigation requested anonymity on grounds that they were not authorized to discuss the situation publicly.
Kelley served as a sort of social ambassador for U.S. Central Command in Tampa, Florida, hosting parties for Petraeus when he was commander there from 2008-10. Her and her husband’s friendship with Petraeus began when he arrived in Tampa, and the Kelleys threw a welcome party at their home, a short distance from Central Command headquarters, introducing the new chief and his wife, Holly, to Tampa’s elite, according to staffers who served with Petraeus.
Such friendships among senior military commanders and prominent local community leaders are common at any military base.
On Capitol Hill, lawmakers said they should have been told about the investigation earlier. Morell, who took over Petraeus’ duties at the CIA, met with Feinstein and ranking Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss on Tuesday.
Asked by reporters if there was a national security breach with the Petraeus affair, Feinstein said, “I have no evidence that there was at this time.”
The Senate Armed Services Committee planned to go ahead with Thursday’s scheduled confirmation hearing on the nomination of Marine Corps Gen. Joseph Dunford, who is to replace Allen as commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, if Allen is indeed promoted to the European Command post.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press
