11/16/2012

Executive: Kelley tried to sell influence

  • NEW: Kelley e-mail to mayor complains about release of 911 calls
  • Businessman: Woman who triggered Petraeus probe offered to influence South Korean deal
  • He says Jill Kelley claimed to be a high-level South Korean government representative
  • Kelley went skydiving with a Special Operations Command team, military says

(CNN) -- A New York businessman says Tampa, Florida, socialite Jill Kelley asked him for a $2 million commission if she used her influence to win a South Korean business contract.

Kelley, who triggered an FBI investigation that led to the resignation of CIA Director David Petraeus, claimed she was a high-level representative of the South Korean government, says the businessman, Adam Victor.

In reality, according to the South Korean Foreign Ministry, Kelley holds a simple honorary title -- "special consul" -- which boasts no official responsibilities.

With the prospect of a commission on an $80 million deal to provide natural gas, Kelley "tried to sell herself as something she was not," Victor, president of TransGas Development Systems, told CNN. "I told her she was crazy."

Kelley's connection to General Allen
Friend of Jill Kelley speaks out
Kelley claims diplomatic privileges
What's known about Jill Kelley
Who is Jill Kelley?
Gen. David Petraeus, 60, resigned Friday, November 9, as head of the CIA and admitted having an affair. His mistress was later identified as his biographer, Paula Broadwell. The retired four-star general formerly oversaw coalition forces in Iraq as well as U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan. He and his wife, Holly, have been married 38 years and have two grown children.Gen. David Petraeus, 60, resigned Friday, November 9, as head of the CIA and admitted having an affair. His mistress was later identified as his biographer, Paula Broadwell. The retired four-star general formerly oversaw coalition forces in Iraq as well as U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan. He and his wife, Holly, have been married 38 years and have two grown children.
Paula Broadwell, 40, is a West Point graduate raising two children with her husband Scott in Charlotte, North Carolina. Her affair with CIA Director David Petraeus led to his resignation. She got to know him while working on a Ph.D. dissertation about him. Alleged "jealous" e-mails she wrote anonymously to another woman, Jill Kelley, brought the affair to light, a government source told CNN.Paula Broadwell, 40, is a West Point graduate raising two children with her husband Scott in Charlotte, North Carolina. Her affair with CIA Director David Petraeus led to his resignation. She got to know him while working on a Ph.D. dissertation about him. Alleged "jealous" e-mails she wrote anonymously to another woman, Jill Kelley, brought the affair to light, a governm ent source told CNN.
Jill Kelley, 37, allegedly received "jealous" e-mails from Paula Broadwell, which the FBI investigated, a government source told CNN. The probe brought the affair between Broadwell and CIA Director David Petraeus to light. Kelley and her husband, Scott, who live in Tampa, say they've been friends with the Petraeus family for more than five years. Kelley, an unpaid liaison at MacDill Air Force Base, is known in Washington's social circuit.Jill Kelley, 37, allegedly received "jealous" e-mails from Paula Broadwell, which the FBI investigated, a government source told CNN. The probe brought the affair between Broadwell and CIA Director David Petraeus to light. Kelley and her husband, Scott, who live in Tampa, say they've been friends with the Petraeus family fo r more than five years. Kelley, an unpaid liaison at MacDill Air Force Base, is known in Washington's social circuit.
Gen. John Allen, 58, U.S. commander in Afghanistan, is under investigation for allegedly sending inappropriate messages to Jill Kelley. He denies wrongdoing, according to a senior defense official. Kelley had complained about anonymous e-mails she received, which were found to be from Paula Broadwell. The FBI probe of those e-mails led to the discovery of Broadwell's affair with CIA Director David Petraeus. Gen. John Allen, 58, U.S. commander in Afghanistan, is under investigation for allegedly sending inappropriate messages to Jill Kelley. He denies wrongdoing, according to a senior defense official. Kelley had complained about anonymous e-mails she received, which were found to be from Paula Broadwell. The FBI probe of those e-mails led to the discovery of Broadwell's a ffair with CIA Director David Petraeus.
Holly Petraeus, 60, has been married for 38 years to retired Gen. David Petraeus, and has two children with him. In the wake of his admitted affair with 40-year-old Paula Broadwell, she has become the latest scorned wife caught up in a public scandal. Holly Petraeus has long carved out her own mission helping others, with a special focus on financial issues facing military families. <br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/>Holly Petraeus, 60, has been married for 38 years to retired Gen. David Petraeus, and has two children with him. In the wake of his admitted affair with 40-year-old Paula Broadwell, she has become the latest scorned wife caught up in a public scandal. Holly Petraeus has long carved out her own mission helping others, with a specia l focus on financial issues facing military families.
Also in the mix is an FBI agent whom Jill Kelley approached about anonymous e-mails she had received. Frederick Humphries had previously sent shirtless photos of himself to Kelley, a U.S. official told CNN. Humphries passed on the information to others to investigate, the source said. The e-mails were determined to be from Paula Broadwell. Also in the mix is an FBI agent whom Jill Kelley approached about anonymous e-mails she had received. Frederick Humphries had previously sent shirtless photos of himself to Kelley, a U.S. official told CNN. Humphries passed on the information to others to investigate, the source said. The e-mails were determined to be from Paula Broadwell.
Who's who in the Petraeus scandal
Photos: Who's who in the Petraeus scandalPhotos: Who's who in the Petraeus scandal

It's not the only time Kelley has claimed to have privileges because of a special diplomatic status. On Sunday, she called 911 complaining that a man she didn't know was on her property, describing herself as an "honorary consul general" with "inviolability."

Related: Who is Jill Kelley?

A spokesman for Kelley did not return CNN's phone calls seeking comment. Although there have been no allegations of wrongdoing, it's the latest twist in a story with possibly troubling ramifications on several levels, including, potentially, national security.

Related: Pillow talk: A spy agency's 'worst nightmare'

Kelley came under public scrutiny after Petraeus quit last week, admitting his extramarital affair with his biographer, Paula Broadwell. Anonymous e-mail sent to Kelley prompted her to alert the FBI, which eventually uncovered the affair.

Related: The scandal: What we know

Kelley has close ties to several high-ranking military figures, including Petraeus and Gen. John Allen, commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan.

Living not far from MacDill Air Force Base, home of the U.S. Central Command, or CENTCOM, Kelley and her husband, Scott, a doctor, hosted parties attended by high-ranking military officials. She even took part in a Special Operations Command-sponsored parachute dive, the Army said.

A $2 million commission would have been helpful to the Kelleys. She and her husband have struggled with financial troubles, according to public records. Their Tampa-area home, which was purchased in 2004 for $1.5 million, has been the subject of foreclosure proceedings since April 2010. Records show a total of 11 lawsuits involving the Kelleys.

Kelley is well-connected to the local military culture. In October 2010, she took part in a parachute skydive organized by the U.S. Special Operations Command. The jump was part of a program that "reached out" to members of Tampa's civilian community and the media, a command spokesman said.

Hosting foreign guests was not unusual for the Kelleys, a high-ranking former CENTCOM military officer said.

In a May 14 e-mail obtained by CNN, Kelley invites Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn to join her at her home for dinner with "a group of VIP's visiting from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Napal, (sic) here by the authority of the State Department. ..."

Read Kelley's e-mails

Adam Victor says Jill Kelley wanted $2 million for using her influence to win a South Korean business contract.
Adam Victor says Jill Kelley wanted $2 million for using her influence to win a South Korean business contract.

Many guests at Kelley's parties were foreign liaison officers attached to the so-called Coalition Village at MacDill's sprawling compound, the source said. Most of those foreign liaisons were not cleared for sensitive classified access to military documents.

"They frankly didn't have a lot to do," the former officer said, "and looked forward to the parties given by the Kelleys."

While the Kelleys opened their mansion to military brass, perhaps understandably, they haven't been as welcoming to members of the news media parked outside.

Kelley complained about it in an e-mail obtained by CNN that was sent to Buckhorn at 5:57 a.m. Tuesday.

"Bob," wrote Kelley, "Hope all is well. Can you help out with the obstruction by the paparazzi, since they're blocking our alley, our driveway and continue to trespass on my property. My kids are scared, and need their 'home' back."

Another e-mail from Kelley complained about Tampa police releasing recordings of her 911 calls last weekend.

"... my family has been put through the ringer and my kids are scared," Kelley wrote in the e-mail. "And to put insult to injury, your police dept. gave the local 911 tapes to the press! My home address and cell phone number is played on them. I have been receiving threats all night, by people that now have my cell phone number. I cannot understand why your dept. would release my address and cell number and make me and my daughters in harms way."

Read Kelley's e-mails

Although 911 recordings released by officials often include caller phone numbers and addresses, most major news organizations do not release that information as part of the recordings.

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