Jill Kelley attempted to forge USF-Korea relations
The bizarre tale of the Gen. David Petraeus affair, which seems to have endless detours, unanswered questions and peculiar connections, has finally found a strange tie to USF, according to a Tampa Bay Times article.
According to the article, Jill Kelley, the 37-year-old South Tampa socialite who initially tipped off the FBI probe into Petraeus affair with his biographer Paula Broadwell, attempted to forge relations between USF Health and South Korea, the country she had been appointed as honorary consul to, and despite a previous Tampa Bay Times report that few South Koreans had heard of her, has provided her with diplomatic protection as a media maelstrom has gathered.
The article, printed Thursday, states that Kelley sent emails in September to USF Health CEO and College of Medicine Dean Stephen Klasko asking if he had any interest in a medical, pharmaceutical or research exchange between USF and Korea.
Klasko responded telling her the university had significant relationships with South Korea and encouraged her to visit USFs Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation (CAMLS), the article stated.
John Sinnott, Associate Dean for USF Medicine International, and Kelley exchanged a few dates for attending the tour, the article said, but Kelley never visited.
Staff report
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