The woman who was the target of harassing emails from the lover of former CIA director David Petraeus has been named as Jill Kelley.
The FBI launched an inquiry after Ms Kelley said she had received vicious emails from Mr Petraeus’ biographer Paula Broadwell.
The checks revealed the affair and led to Mr Petraeus’ resignation.
Politicians now want to know why they were not told about the affair sooner, with one even suggesting a cover-up.
Mr Petraeus, the 60-year-old four-star general, described his behaviour as “unacceptable” for the CIA’s leader.
The BBC’s Jane Little in Washington says that last week’s dramatic fall from grace of the former spymaster continues to send shockwaves through the capital.
‘Lightning bolt’
On Sunday, US officials named the second woman as Jill Kelley, who lives in Florida.
They describe the 37-year-old from Florida as a family friend of Mr Petraeus and his wife, Holly.
There is no suggestion that Mrs Kelley, who works as an unpaid social liaison at a military base in Tampa, has had an affair with the former CIA boss.
In a statement, Mrs Kelley and her husband acknowledged their friendship with Mr Petraeus and asked for privacy.
Mr Petraeus was forced to resign last week, although US officials said the FBI had begun an inquiry into Mrs Broadwell, 40, several months ago.
This has now triggered angry reaction from both Democratic and Republican politicians, who are asking whether national security could have been compromised.
David Petraeus: Career highlights
“We received no advanced notice. It was like a lighting bolt,” said Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein, who leads the Senate Intelligence Committee.
Republican Peter King, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, said he wanted to know why the FBI only tipped off the White House on election day.
“It doesn’t add up,” he said.
The FBI says it followed protocol, and had found nothing suggest any threat to national security.
Mr Petraeus became CIA boss in 2011 after heading international forces in Iraq and later in Afghanistan.
He was the highest-profile military officer of the post-9/11 years, winning plaudits for his role running the “surge” in Iraq and implementing a counter-insurgency strategy in Afghanistan.
He left his command role in Afghanistan in mid-2011, resigning from the US Army to head the CIA after Leon Panetta became defence secretary.
(BBC News)
