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David Petraeus CIA scandal engulfs US Gen John Allen David Petraeus CIA scandal engulfs US Gen John Allen
(about 3 hours later)
The top US commander in Afghanistan, Gen John Allen, is being investigated for allegedly sending "inappropriate emails" to a woman at the centre of a scandal which ended the career of CIA head David Petraeus. One of the most senior generals in the US military has been linked to a woman involved in the downfall of CIA Director David Petraeus.
The emails were said to be to Jill Kelley, whose complaint led the FBI to uncover Gen Petraeus's extramarital affair with Paula Broadwell. Afghanistan commander Gen John Allen is being probed amid reports he sent thousands of "inappropriate" emails to Florida socialite Jill Kelley.
Gen Allen denies any wrongdoing. Harassment complaints by Mrs Kelley led the FBI to discover an affair between the CIA chief and his biographer.
His nomination to head Nato in Europe is now on hold, the White House says. David Petraeus resigned on Friday. Gen Allen says he has done nothing wrong.
Gen Allen was due to face a Senate confirmation hearing for the post of Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, but that has been suspended at the request of Defence Secretary Leon Panetta, a spokesman said. Currently commanding 68,000 US troops in Afghanistan, Gen Allen was due to face a confirmation hearing in the US Senate on Thursday for his new role as supreme commander of Nato forces in Europe.
That hearing has now been suspended at the request of Defence Secretary Leon Panetta, a spokesman said.
The shadow cast over Gen Allen's future means that US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta has asked the White House to put the nomination process for the next Nato supreme allied commander in Europe on hold.The shadow cast over Gen Allen's future means that US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta has asked the White House to put the nomination process for the next Nato supreme allied commander in Europe on hold.
Gen Allen, who was nominated for the post after his impressive performance in Afghanistan, was seen as almost certain to be approved by the Senate. The holder of Nato's top military job in Europe is also in charge of the US European command.Gen Allen, who was nominated for the post after his impressive performance in Afghanistan, was seen as almost certain to be approved by the Senate. The holder of Nato's top military job in Europe is also in charge of the US European command.
We do not know the nature of the relationship, if any, between Gen Allen and Jill Kelley. But the US military code takes a dim view of extramarital affairs, one of the factors that prompted Gen Petraeus to stand down as CIA director after revelations of his affair with Paula Broadwell.We do not know the nature of the relationship, if any, between Gen Allen and Jill Kelley. But the US military code takes a dim view of extramarital affairs, one of the factors that prompted Gen Petraeus to stand down as CIA director after revelations of his affair with Paula Broadwell.
David Petraeus, who preceded Gen Allen as head of US forces in Afghanistan, resigned on Friday as head of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) over his affair with Mrs Broadwell. David Petraeus, who preceded Gen Allen as head of US forces in Afghanistan, resigned as head of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) over his affair with biographer Paula Broadwell, 40.
In a statement, Mr Panetta said that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) referred the Gen Allen issue to the Pentagon on Sunday. The defence secretary, currently in Australia, then ordered an investigation on Monday. In a statement, Mr Panetta said that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) referred the Gen Allen issue to the Pentagon on Sunday. The defence secretary, currently in Australia, then ordered an investigation.
He has encouraged the US Senate to act quickly on approving Gen Allen's successor in Afghanistan, Gen Joseph Dunford.He has encouraged the US Senate to act quickly on approving Gen Allen's successor in Afghanistan, Gen Joseph Dunford.
Gen Allen was due to face href="http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/committees/b_three_sections_with_teasers/committee_hearings.htm" >a Senate confirmation hearing on Thursday. If approved, as had been widely expected, he was expected to take up his appointment heading the Nato-led International Security Assistance Forces (Isaf), in early 2013. Mr Panetta praised the Gen Allen's work in Afghanistan, saying his leadership had ensured "significant progress" in improving security for Afghans.
Mr Panetta praised the general's work in Afghanistan, saying his leadership had ensured "significant progress" in improving security for Afghans.
Gen Petraeus had been due to testify before a closed-door congressional committee meeting about the 11 September 2012 attack on the US consulate in Benghazi, Libya, that killed the ambassador and three other Americans.Gen Petraeus had been due to testify before a closed-door congressional committee meeting about the 11 September 2012 attack on the US consulate in Benghazi, Libya, that killed the ambassador and three other Americans.
Acting CIA director Michael Morell will testify in his place on Thursday, although Gen Petraeus may be called at a later date.Acting CIA director Michael Morell will testify in his place on Thursday, although Gen Petraeus may be called at a later date.
Mr Panetta has criticised the FBI for not informing members of US Congressional intelligence committees of its investigation. FBI officials are scheduled to brief the Senate and House intelligence committees on Tuesday about the case, but Mr Panetta has criticised the FBI for not informing members of US congressional committees.
FBI officials are scheduled to brief the Senate and House intelligence committees on Tuesday about the case.
FBI briefingFBI briefing
The widening of the Petraeus affair increases the focus not only on Gen Allen but on the woman he is alleged to have exchanged emails with.The widening of the Petraeus affair increases the focus not only on Gen Allen but on the woman he is alleged to have exchanged emails with.
Investigators are reported to have found 20-30,000 pages of documents, many of them emails between Gen Allen and Jill Kelley, 37, a married woman from Tampa, Florida.Investigators are reported to have found 20-30,000 pages of documents, many of them emails between Gen Allen and Jill Kelley, 37, a married woman from Tampa, Florida.
A senior defence official would not say whether they involved sexual matters or whether they are thought to include unauthorised disclosures of classified information, the Associated Press reports.A senior defence official would not say whether they involved sexual matters or whether they are thought to include unauthorised disclosures of classified information, the Associated Press reports.
Mrs Kelley had already been named in the Petraeus scandal after she told the FBI early in the summer she had received anonymous harassing emails.Mrs Kelley had already been named in the Petraeus scandal after she told the FBI early in the summer she had received anonymous harassing emails.
She allegedly reported the emails to an FBI agent, who has not been named. That man launched the investigation but was not allowed to work on it because of concerns that he was personally involved with the case.
The agent allegedly sent a shirtless photo of himself to Mrs Kelley before she contacted him about the anonymous emails, the Wall Street Journal reports.
He also appeared to become obsessed with the case, and eventually contacted a member of Congress about it, the newspaper adds.
When the FBI investigated, it traced the emails to Paula Broadwell, bringing to light her affair with Gen Petraeus.When the FBI investigated, it traced the emails to Paula Broadwell, bringing to light her affair with Gen Petraeus.
Late on Monday, the FBI carried out a search of Mrs Broadwell's home in Charlotte, North Carolina. Late on Monday the FBI carried out a search of Mrs Broadwell's home in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Between eight and 10 agents began a search, which Mrs Broadwell is said to have consented to, around 21:00 local time (02:00 GMT) and continued for about four hours, the Charlotte Observer reports.
They were seen leaving the house with desktop computers, a printer, a briefcase and about cardboard boxes.
Mrs Kelley is married to a prominent cancer specialist in the Tampa area and works as a volunteer with wounded veterans and military families at the MacDill Air Force Base in the city.Mrs Kelley is married to a prominent cancer specialist in the Tampa area and works as a volunteer with wounded veterans and military families at the MacDill Air Force Base in the city.
The base is headquarters of the US Central Command, formerly headed by David Petraeus.The base is headquarters of the US Central Command, formerly headed by David Petraeus.
She is a family friend of him and his wife Holly, but no evidence has emerged that she ever had an affair with the CIA director.She is a family friend of him and his wife Holly, but no evidence has emerged that she ever had an affair with the CIA director.
Gen Allen, a four-star Marine general, succeeded Gen Petraeus as the top American commander in Afghanistan in July 2011.Gen Allen, a four-star Marine general, succeeded Gen Petraeus as the top American commander in Afghanistan in July 2011.
He was deputy commander of Central Command before taking over in Afghanistan. He is also a veteran of the Iraq war.He was deputy commander of Central Command before taking over in Afghanistan. He is also a veteran of the Iraq war.
Gen Petraeus's affair with Mrs Broadwell, who co-wrote a biography of the general, began following his retirement from the army and about two months after he became director of the CIA. He said it ended about four months ago.Gen Petraeus's affair with Mrs Broadwell, who co-wrote a biography of the general, began following his retirement from the army and about two months after he became director of the CIA. He said it ended about four months ago.
Gen Petraeus joined the CIA in September 2011 after heading international forces in Iraq and later in Afghanistan.Gen Petraeus joined the CIA in September 2011 after heading international forces in Iraq and later in Afghanistan.
The BBC's Bilal Sarwary, in Kabul, says the scandal is making headlines and has shocked many people in Afghanistan, where Gen Allen had built good relations with leaders and commanders.The BBC's Bilal Sarwary, in Kabul, says the scandal is making headlines and has shocked many people in Afghanistan, where Gen Allen had built good relations with leaders and commanders.
Some Afghan officials are asking how he found time to write thousands of emails when he was in charge of running a war, our correspondent says.Some Afghan officials are asking how he found time to write thousands of emails when he was in charge of running a war, our correspondent says.