Woman in Petraeus Scandal Got Medal for Party Hosting

Jill Kelley, one of the women involved in the David Petraeus affair scandal, was awarded a medal from the Joint Chiefs of Staff last year ... basically for throwing parties. Petraeus initially recommended Kelley for the award, the second-highest civilian honor awarded by the JCS, and Mike Mullen eventually approved it. She was honored for her "outstanding public service to the United States Central Command, the MacDill Air Force Base community, and the Department of Defense," and the award citation specifically mentioned her "willingness to host engagements," the Tampa Tribune reports.

Kelley is now infamous for sparking the Petraeus investigation after asking the FBI to look into allegedly harassing emails she received from Paula Broadwell, with whom Petraeus was having an affair; Kelley's own communications with Gen. John Allen are also now under investigation. Petraeus himself presented Kelley with the award in Washington. The citation notes that Kelley often invited "Senior National Representatives, their spouses, and senior leaders to her home," and that such gatherings "promoted camaraderie, understanding," and a good relationship between the military and the Tampa community. (More Jill Kelley stories.)