In a shocking twist, the top US military commander in Afghanistan been caught up in the Petraeus sex scandal.
Marine Gen. John Allen is being investigated for “inappropriate communications” with Jill Kelley — the woman harassed by e-mails allegedly sent by David Petraeus’ mistress.
Allen, 58, who succeeded Petraeus as top battlefield commander, allegedly exchanged between 20,000 and 30,000 pages of “potentially inappropriate” e-mails with the married Kelley, The Washington Post said.
The exchanges took place between 2010 and this year.
The FBI’s investigation into Petraeus’ affair with Paula Broadwell led them to Allen, the newspaper said. The agency referred its findings Sunday to the Pentagon, which began its probe yesterday.
Kelley surfaced in the scandal Sunday when it was reported Broadwell sent her e-mails warning her to stay away from then-CIA Director Petraeus.
Kelley denied any romantic relationship with Petraeus, who quit Friday.
Prior to Allen taking over for Petraeus in Afghanistan in 2011, he was deputy commander of Central Command, in Tampa, Fla., where Kelley lives.
Kelley, 37, is a volunteer “social liaison” to the military’s Joint Special Operations Command in Florida.
Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta said Allen would remain in Afghanistan for now, “while the matter is under investigation and before the facts are determined.”
But Panetta said Allen’s nomination to be the next commander of NATO forces in Europe has been put on hold, ABC said.
Allen denied any wrongdoing.