Jill Kelley Denied Air Force Base Access Over Petraeus Scandal
In the wake of the fallout over Gen. Petraeus' affair, the woman who disclosed the improper relationship is now banned from the military base, where she used to coordinate social functions for top military officials.
Jill Kelley, 37, the Florida socialite embroiled in this recent scandal plaguing the military, was known in high-brow circles to throw lavish parties while rubbing elbows with some of the most powerful men in uniform.
She was charged with planning and hosting charitable events for CENTCOM, the Defense Department's Central Command, which is responsible for directing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
"Jill is known as a gracious host, a vivacious individual," said Aaron Fodiman, editor and publisher of Tampa Bay Magazine.
For her efforts she was given access to MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa as a civilian that did not require a military escort and she was also awarded with being an "honorary ambassador" to the military and a honorary consul for South Korea, both of which were unofficial positions.
But with the recent developments of the scandal, her access to the base has been revoked and she now finds herself at the center of the investigation. Reports have stated that Kelley is drowning in debt and her house is in foreclosure, which may have pushed Kelley to try and exploit her military connections.
With all the attention being directed at Kelley, claims have been made that both she and her husband operated a bogus charity that went to fund their extravagant lifestyle.
Reports indicate that Kelley threw lavish parties with funds provided by a bogus charity she had set up with her doctor husband, Scott Kelley.
The couple established a charity called the "Doctor Kelley Cancer Foundation" in 2007. The charity purported to have a mission to "conduct cancer research and to grant wishes to terminally ill adult cancer patients."
"By the end of 2007, the charity had gone bankrupt, having conveniently spent exactly the same amount of money, $157,284, as it started with -- not a dollar more, according to its 990 financial form." according to a report by the Huffington Post
The report continued to claim, "Of that, $43,317 was billed as 'Meals and Entertainment,' $38,610 was assigned to 'Travel,' another $25,013 was spent on legal fees, and $8,822 went to 'Automotive Expenses.'"
The Kelleys continue to keep a low-profile and have yet commented on the current investigation or their involvement with the charity.
