| The identity of a woman has emerged who purportedly received harassing emails from David Petraeus' biographer. NBC's Mike Viqueira reports, and then, Msnbc's Craig Melvin interviews military analyst Ret. Col. Jack Jacobs. By Pete Williams and Kristen Welker, NBC News An FBI agent's call to a congressional staffer had no effect on the investigation of CIA Director David Petraeus and Paula Broadwell or the timing of the disclosure to James Clapper, the director of national intelligence, a senior law enforcement official tells NBC News. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., has suggested that if not for the agent's call, the matter might never have been disclosed, or at least, not when it was revealed. But the official insists that's not the case. Cantor says he was told in late October about allegations that Petraeus was having an extramarital affair. "I was contacted by an FBI employee concerned that sensitive, classified information may have been compromised and made certain (FBI Director Robert) Mueller was aware of these serious allegations and the potential risk to our national security," Cantor said in a statement. Petraeus resigned on Friday from the CIA post, citing an extramarital affair. The official says the call to Capitol Hill came from an agent who was initially involved in the investigation but who was later removed from the case because he knew an associate of one of the people being investigated. The agent knew someone on the Hill and called that person, a Republican staffer, according to the official. But that phone call had no effect on either the course of the investigation, the involvement of the FBI's Mueller -- who was following it closely long before Cantor called him -- or the decision to notify Clapper, the official says. NBC News has identified the woman who received the allegedly harassing e-mails from David Petraeus' biographer. Msnbc's Craig Melvin reports. "The investigation had to take a certain path, step by step. Things needed to be explored, and there were sensitivities to observe. It was overseen carefully," the official says. Contrary to what some sources have apparently said, this official says the agent did not seek whistle-blower protection and should not be described as a whistle-blower. As for the woman who received the allegedly harassing emails that were traced to Broadwell, multiple sources confirmed to NBC News on Sunday that she is Jill Kelley, 37, of Tampa, Fla. An FBI investigation into a complaint about Broadwell, who authored a biography of Gen. Petraeus, turned up emails indicative of an extramarital affair between the writer and the general, senior law enforcement officials and government officials familiar with the investigation previously told NBC News. NBC News has been unable to reach Broadwell and Kelley for comment. "He's not perfect, he's made a mistake," said Steven Boylan, who worked for Gen. David Petraeus before the CIA director resigned following the discovery of his extramarital affair. NBC's Kristen Welker reports. Petraeus: Battlefield 'hero' and savvy Washington insider Meanwhile, Steven Boylan, a former spokesman for Petraeus, said he was "very surprised and shocked" at the news that led to Petraeus' resignation. "I don't know if 'let down' would be right word … my first reaction was disbelief and then wondering if there wasn't somebody out there was spinning something to try to do some kind of harm 'cause that's happened in the past," Boylan told NBC News in an interview on Saturday. He said he also had communications with Broadwell during the early stages of her research for her book. "Based on my initial contact with her on email, telephone, she sounded driven, she seemed smart on the topic. Anyone probably doing their dissertation knows the rigors of research and is going to have to be dedicated in that direction," Boylan said. He said he didn't recall Petraeus ever commenting to him about Broadwell. On Sunday, Boylan said he spoke with Petreaus again and said the general told him the affair lasted nine or 10 months and ended four months ago. As for Petraeus' wife Holly, Boylan said she's hanging tough, and to suggest that she's furious is an "understatement." Pete Williams is NBC News' justice correspondent. Kristen Welker is NBC News' White House correspondent. More content from NBCNews.com:  |
11/11/2012
Source: FBI agent's call didn't affect Petraeus probe
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