Allen

The sex scandal involving former CIA chief David Petraeus has now engulfed another senior U.S. official, this one in charge of NATO forces in Afghanistan.

The New York Times reports that Gen. John R. Allen engaged in “inappropriate communication” with Jill Kelley, the woman from Tampa, Fla. who received harassing emails from Paula Broadwell, Petraeus’s mistress.

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta told reporters while traveling in Australia that he had turned the matter over to the Defense Department’s inspector general, who will be tasked with reviewing between 20,000 and 30,000 documents, some of those being emails between Allen and Kelley dating from between 2010 and 2012.

In terms of consequences, President Obama agreed to delay Allen’s nomination to serve as commander of American forces in Europe and the Supreme Allied Commander of NATO. At the same time, the nomination hearing for Gen. Joseph A. Dunford, selected to replace Allen in Afghanistan, will proceed as planned.