Gen. Allen cleared of wrongdoing over emails to Jill Kelley

The Pentagon has cleared U.S. Afghanistan commander Gen. John Allen of any wrongdoing over sending inappropriate emails. 

The Pentagon Inspector General cleared Allen following an
investigation into his e-mail contact with Jill Kelley, a Pentagon official confirmed to The Hill.

Pentagon press secretary George Little said in a statement Tuesday evening that the allegations of misconduct were “not substantiated” by the investigation.

“The Secretary has complete confidence in the continued leadership of General Allen, who is serving with distinction in Afghanistan,” Little said.

Allen was ensnared in the scandal that led to the
resignation of former CIA Director David Petraeus in November when his emails
to Kelly were unearthed in the FBI investigation that discovered Petraeus’
affair with Paula Broadwell.

Kelley went to the FBI after receiving allegedly threatening
emails from Broadwell.

{mosads}The FBI handed over to the Pentagon between 20,000 and
30,000 pages of Allen’s correspondence with Kelley, prompting the IG
investigation.

Allen, who has remained at the head of U.S. and NATO troops
in Afghanistan during the investigation, denied any wrongdoing.

The Marine Corps general’s nomination to become NATO Supreme
Allied Commander-Europe and U.S. European Command chief was put on hold,
however.

There was no word yet whether Allen would be re-nominated to
the post now that the investigation had concluded.

Allen’s successor in Afghanistan, Gen. Joseph Dunford, has
already been confirmed and will replace him in the post soon.

As Allen winds down in Afghanistan, he is recommending troop
plans to the White House through 2014, when NATO will hand off security control
to the Afghans, and for a post-2014 U.S. residual force.”

The Washington Post first reported the news that Allen had been cleared.

–This report was originally published at 6:01 p.m. and last updated at 6:53 p.m.