Jill Kelley, Bubba The Love Sponge: Socialite Asked To 'Deal With' Controversial Host
Former CIA director David Petraeus and Gen. John Allen asked Tampa socialite Jill Kelley to intervene in what could have been a threat to the safety of U.S. troops made by radio host Bubba the Love Sponge, according to emails released by the city of Tampa.
Earlier this year, the Florida-based radio show host threatened to "deep fat fry" a Quran and the statement did not sit well with Petraeus and Allen, who is the commander of U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan.
The city of Tampa, Fla., recently released emails stating that Kelley asked Mayor Buck Buckhorn, on behalf of Petraeus and Allen, to tell Bubba the Love Sponge to retract his statement and back down, according to NBC News.
"I have Petraeus & Allen both emailing me about getting this dealt with," Kelley wrote to Buckhorn on March 7.
On March 6, Kelley said similar remarks to Buckhorn on behalf of both Allen and Vice Adm. Robert Harward, deputy commander of the U.S. Central Command in Tampa.
"I just got off the phone with Gen. Allen & Adm Harward," she wrote. "I'm going to need your assistance, vice versa with the potential crises we'll be dealing with."
Kelley became a volunteer for the International Council of the Tampa Bay Region about six months ago, President Gary Springer said. The council, one of many in the country, works in association with the State Department to coordinate professional programs, cultural activities, social events and home hospitality for visitors from other countries as part of the International Visitor Leadership Program. Volunteers involved in the Council, such as Kelley, help coordinate these events but hold no official job with the U.S. government.
The emails add new details to the ongoing investigation to Petraeus' affair with his biographer, Paula Broadwell, Kelley's involvement in the matter, and her close relationship with high political figures like Gen. Allen.
An FBI investigation revealed that Broadwell sent disturbing emails to Kelley, some of which warned her to stay away from Petraeus. Kelley and Petraeus have benn close family friends for over five years, Kelley said. However, as investigators delved further into email correspondents between the respective parties, they found that Kelley and Allen were engaged in "inappropriate communications."
