Updated

Tampa socialite Jill Kelley, whose name surfaced during the investigation of then-CIAdirector David Petraeus’ affair with his biographer, announced Monday that she and her husband were suing the FBI and the Department of Defense for leaking damaging private information about them.

The suit, filed in federal district court in Washington, says the leaked information “should have been kept completely confidential,” according to the couple’s attorneys.

Kelley released a statement at the same time saying, “Today is an unforgettable day because one year ago threatening emails shook my life, and ultimately changed our country's leadership.

“It was under the faithful direction of our concerned military leaders, that I went to the law enforcement to seek the proper protection for my family, our Commanders, and top US Officials.

“But unfortunately, we did not receive the confidentiality and protection. Instead we received highly hurtful and damaging publicity from willful leaks from high level government officials that were false and defamatory.

"In addition, we also learned that our personal emails were wrongfully searched, and improperly disclosed.”

No damages figure was mentioned in the lawsuit.

Kelley’s emails with General John Allen, former commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, surfaced during the investigation into Petraeus’ extramarital affair with his biographer Paula Broadwell.

In a Washington Post opinion piece written by the couple last January they said any insinuation that Kelley and Allen were engaged in a relationship was “preposterous.”