Gen. John Allen probed over 'inappropriate' emails

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AFP - Getty Images, Reuters General John Allen, left, pictured in October, and Jill Kelley, seen walking out of her home in Tampa on Monday.

Follow @NBCNewsUSBy NBC News staffU.S. General John Allen, commander of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, is under investigation over allegations of “inappropriate” emails between him and the woman who sparked the probe into CIA Director David Petraeus, officials said early Tuesday.

In a statement, the Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta said that the FBI had referred “a matter involving" Allen to the Department of Defense.

“Today, the secretary directed that the matter be referred to the Inspector General of the Department of Defense for investigation, and it is now in the hands of the Inspector General,” Panetta said.

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