Petraeus probe: One email opens Pandora’s box

Nov 16, 2012 |

Washington

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It started in May with a spiteful email to the top US commander in Afghanistan. An anonymous writer warned Gen. John Allen that a friend with whom he was meeting in Washin-gton the following week was trouble and he should stay away from her.

Allen thought the email was a joke because he didn’t know how anybody else would know about his personal plans with his friend, Florida socialite Jill Kelley, a person close to Kelley said.

That email started a chain of events that led to the downfall of CIA director David Petraeus, put Allen’s career on hold and landed a decorated FBI agent in hot water for talking about an ongoing investigation.

The FBI traced that email and others of a similar vein to Paula Broadwell, Petraeus’ biographer, who agents would soon learn had also been his lover.

The FBI has found a substantial number of classified documents on Broadwell's computer and in her home, according to a law enforcement official.

Broadwell has told agents that she took classified documents out of government buildings.

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