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Gilberte "Jill" Khawam Kelley (born June 3, 1975) is a Lebanese-American socialite and privacy advocate in Tampa, Florida.Kelley, a Florida socialite with connections to military circles, had issued a complaint to the FBI in May 2012 over a series of anonymous stalking emails. The threatening emails were traced to Petraeus' biographer Paula Broadwell. Kelley became a focus of media coverage when an FBI investigation related to e-mails she had received led to the public becoming aware that General David Petraeus was having an affair and a further investigation of e-mail communications General John R. Allen sent to Kelley. In January 2013, the Department of Defense Inspector General cleared Allen of all allegations involving Kelley, stating that the claims against Allen were "unsubstantiated".

Personal life

Jill Kelley was born Gilberte Khawam in Beirut, Lebanon on June 3, 1975. Kelley, the Honorary Ambassador to United States Central Command's Coalition Forces, was known to be someone with 'connective tissue' to the diplomatic world. Diplomats used Jill Kelley's connections with Central Command Senior Generals to secure briefings for visiting foreign dignitaries. Kelley was a regular on the DC diplomatic circuit and frequently attended embassy events. Known to be the go-between for Lebanese and other Middle Eastern government officials, she was active with dignitaries from the region and attended parties at embassies in Washington. Her family includes her identical twin sister, Natalie Khawam, a brother, David Khawam, and sister, Caroline. Jill's parents are Lebanese-American Maronite Catholics who immigrated to the United States from Jounieh, Lebanon in the mid-1970s. Kelley grew up in suburban Philadelphia, where her parents owned a restaurant. Kelley lived in the Philadelphia area until her mid-20s. Kelley attended Arcadia University.

Kelley is married to cancer surgeon Dr. Scott Kelley, and the two live with their three children in Tampa, Florida. Jill Kelley put her medical studies on hold at one point to have a baby. Since moving to Tampa, Kelley has devoted considerable time to community service, both to the local homeless as well as to the large community of servicemen and women in the Tampa area.

In March 2011, she received the Joint Chief of Staff Award for public service for "building positive relationships between the military and the Tampa community".

E-mail investigation

In May 2012, Kelley complained to an FBI investigator of harassing e-mails sent by an anonymous woman. In her communication with the FBI, Kelley stated that the e-mails appeared to be an attempt to blackmail General Petraeus. This sparked an investigation. Kelley later asked for the investigation to be stopped, citing concern that she and her family might also come under scrutiny. Her requests were nonetheless ignored. This set off a chain of events that eventually led to the resignation of David Petraeus on November 9, 2012.

The anonymous woman was identified as Petraeus biographer Paula Broadwell, who investigators discovered had been having an affair with him. During the course of that investigation, the FBI found emails between Kelley and General John R. Allen, Petraeus's successor as top commander in Afghanistan. On November 13, 2012, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said that the nomination of Gen. Allen for the post of Supreme Allied Commander Europe would be delayed.

News agencies said Allen was being investigated due to alleged "inappropriate communication" between Kelley and Allen that was "flirtatious in nature". ABC News reported on November 14 that Kelley's security clearance at nearby CENTCOM Headquarters had been revoked. On January 22, 2013, General Allen was cleared of accusations of inappropriate communication with Mrs. Kelley in a misconduct inquiry.

Kelley called 911 several times, attempting to invoke diplomatic immunity. She told the dispatcher, “I am an honorary consul general, so I have inviolability".

According to a lawsuit Kelley and her husband filed against the FBI, Department of Defense and other governmental agencies on June 3, 2013, "By disclosing the contents of the Kelleys' emails, by either directly sharing contents of the emails or making statements suggesting that the content of the emails was lurid, government officials served Mrs. Kelley up on a platter to be devoured in a frenzy of salacious speculation regarding the nature of her relationship with Director Petraeus."

Public life

Kelley and her husband have been active socialites in the Tampa area, appearing in local society news items and making television appearances. Kelley became a volunteer social liaison to MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa. Kelley and her husband were known for hosting cigar and caviar parties for military leaders at their home near the United States Central Command, a theater-level Unified Combatant Command of the U.S. Department of Defense established in 1983.

In July 2013, she was sought out by an Afghan Parliament member to create a dialogue between his government and the U.S. around the possibility of the withdrawal of U.S. troops after 2014. In response to the request Kelley said,"I am honored to resume my focus to promote cross-cultural dialogue and global trust for a peaceful and strategic exit to help our U.S. and Coalition forces transition out of Afghanistan".

Kelley is the former Honorary Consul General for the Republic of Korea, a title she was given in thanks for her volunteer work with coalition troops. In 2012, New York businessman Adam Victor accused Kelley of using her position as special envoy to South Korea for personal gain. Despite her denying the allegations, South Korea removed Kelley from the position.

Cite error: There are <ref> tags on this page without content in them (see the help page).==References==

1. George, Orcas (November 13, 2012). "Jill Kelley (Khawam). The Lebanese Mata Hari?". Daily Kos.
2. ^ "Gen. Allen, Top Commander in Afghanistan, Cleared of Wrongdoing With Socialite - ABC News". Abcnews.go.com. January 22, 2013. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
3. "Jill Kelley Says Paula Broadwell Tried to 'Blackmail' Her". The Daily Beast. January 22, 2013. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
4. "Pentagon investigation clears Gen. Allen of improper behavior in email exchanges - Investigations". Openchannel.nbcnews.com. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
5. Jill Kelley, key figure in Petraeus scandal, led lavish life Los Angeles Times November 14, 2012
6. Staff report (October 22, 1993). Philadelphia fans short on memory but long on faith. Philadelphia Inquirer
7. ^ "Jill Kelley, woman who sparked Petraeus probe, has Philadelphia roots - Philly.com". Articles.philly.com. November 12, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
8. CTV News, "CTV National News" airdate November 13, 2012
9. ^ Leger, Donna Leinwand (November 12, 2012) Jill Kelley ID'd as woman who sparked Petraeus inquiry. USA Today
10. Laker, Barbara (November 12, 2012). Petraeus email trail has Philly link. philly.com
11. "Jill Kelley". Business Insider. November 11, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
12. "Jill Kelley Sues FBI, Defense Department In Petraeus Scandal". Huffingtonpost.com. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
13. Gregg Re (November 22, 2012). "Jill Kelley was awarded Joint Chiefs' No. 2 civilian medal". The Daily Caller. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
14. "New details in Petraeus scandal: Woman who received threatening emails revealed". Fox News. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
15. Elisabeth Bumiller, Top U.S. Commander in Afghanistan Is Linked to Petraeus Scandal The New York Times November 13, 2012
16. "Gen. John Allen cleared in misconduct inquiry". Washington Post. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
17. "In 911 calls, Kelley tried to invoke diplomatic immunity - U.S. News". Usnews.nbcnews.com. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
18. "UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA" (PDF). The Huffington Post. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
19. Hooper, Ernest (January 7, 2003). Food and family, bringing in the greens. St. Petersburg Times
20. Keeler, Janet K. (January 15, 2003). Lights! Camera! Cook! St. Petersburg Times
21. Scourtes, Mary (January 15, 2003). Tasty Television. The Tampa Tribune
22. Petraeus friend Jill Kelley found place hosting military parties Tampa Bay Times November 13, 2012
23. Carol D. Leonnig (November 13, 2012), Jill Kelley: Tampa woman who was hostess to the military The Washington Post
24. http://tbo.com/list/military-news/altman-afghan-politician-reaches-out-to-jill-kelley-20130728/
25. Daily Mail, "Is Petraeus affair the new Lewinsky scandal? General's lover and whistleblower friend both turn to Monica aides for legal advice", Paul Thompson, November 12, 2012
26. TalkingPointsMemo, "Jill Kelley, An Embarrassment to Honorary Consuls Everywhere", Josh Marshall, November 13, 2012
27. The Business Insider, "Jill Kelley Is An "Honorary Consul" Of Korea And Thinks She Has Diplomatic Immunity", Henry Blodget, November 13, 2012
28. http://www.economist.com/news/international/21584338-foreign-ministries-employ-ever-more-amateurs-do-their-bidding-abroad-booming-trade Honorary consuls: A booming trade
29. http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/11/27/15484600-south-korea-to-sack-tampa-socialite-jill-kelley-as-honorary-consul?lite South Korea to sack Tampa socialite Jill Kelley as honorary consul
30. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/9704839/David-Petraeus-Jill-Kelley-ousted-as-honorary-consul-to-South-Korea.html David Petraeus: Jill Kelley ousted as honorary consul to South Korea
31. http://edition.cnn.com/2012/11/26/world/asia/south-korea-kelley Petraeus scandal figure to lose 'honorary consul' title, South Korean official says
32. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57554590/south-korea-jill-kelley-losing-honorary-consul-title/ South Korea: Jill Kelley losing honorary consul title

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• 1975 births
• American people of Lebanese descent
• American socialites
• Lebanese socialites
• Lebanese emigrants to the United States
• Living people
• Lebanese Maronites
• People from Beirut
• People from Tampa, Florida
• People from Voorhees Township, New Jersey
• Petraeus sex scandal