US General Allen Under Investigation in Sex Scandal Case

The top US commander in Afghanistan is under investigation for alleged inappropriate communication with a woman at the heart of the sex scandal involving former CIA director David Petraeus.

Published

6 months ago

Categories

US

Topics

Military, US Politics, United States

People

John Allen, David Petraeus, Paula Broadwell, Jill Kelley

Transcript

Just days after the resignation of former CIA chief David Petraeus over a sex scandal, another U.S. military officer is under investigation. U.S. General John Allen, who succeeded Petraeus at the head of U.S. command in Afghanistan, is at the heart of a new FBI case for alleged inappropriate communication with military volunteer Jill Kelley. Kelley came forward with complaints about harassing emails from Petraeus biographer Paula Broadwell, ultimately alerting authorities to an affair between the CIA director and Broadwell. On Tuesday, the Department of Defense announced a hold on Allen's pending nomination to be commander of United States European Command and Supreme Allied Commander Europe. (SOUNDBITE) (English) DEFENSE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN GEORGE LITTLE SAYING: "While this matter is under investigation and before the facts are determined, General Allen will remain commander of ISAF. His leadership has been instrumental in achieving the significant progress that ISAF, working alongside our Afghan partners, has made in bringing greater security to the Afghan people." A senior U.S. official said on condition of anonymity that the FBI uncovered between 20,000 and 30,000 pages of communications - mostly emails spanning from 2010 to 2012 - between Allen and Kelley.