Lawyers for Jill Kelley — the Florida woman whose complaint to federal authorities about harassing emails last year led to the resignation of former CIA Director David Petraeus — on Monday filed a lawsuit claiming the FBI and Department of Defense officials violated her privacy by failing to keep information about her role in the investigation confidential.
“One year ago, threatening e-mails shook my life and ultimately changed our country’s leadership. It was under the faithful direction of our concerned military leaders that I went to the law enforcement to seek the proper protection for my family, our commanders, and top US officials. But unfortunately, we did not receive the confidentiality and protection,” Kelley said in a statement provided by the lawyer representing her and her husband, Scott.
The now-infamous Tampa socialite told the FBI in May 2012 that she was receiving blackmail and extortion threats from an unknown person jealous about the relationship Kelley had with Petraeus.
Kelley’s complaint to the FBI began an sprawling investigation that eventually revealed Petraeus biographer Paula Broadwell had sent the emails and uncovered evidence that she had been having an affair with the four star general.
Petraeus resigned from his position as CIA director last November — and days later Kelley’s name was leaked to the media.
A series of headlines ensued about the 38-year-old mother, specifically about her relationship with U.S. General John Allen, commander of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. The two exchanged numerous emails, some of which U.S. officials described as “inappropriate,” but Allen was eventually cleared of any wrong doing and retired in February.