Two prominent US lawmakers came to the defence Sunday of David Petraeus, the retired general and former CIA chief under an FBI investigation for allegedly leaking classified information to his former mistress. The New York Times reported on Friday that the FBI and federal prosecutors have recommended that felony charges be brought against Petraeus, whose exploits as the top US commander in Iraq and Afghanistan made him one of America's most celebrated generals.
Attorney General Eric Holder said in television interviews Sunday no decision would be made in the case until all the evidence was in, but declined further comment. Pressure rose, however, for a quick resolution of the matter from the general's admirers in Congress.
"This man has suffered enough, in my view," said Senator Dianne Feinstein, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee who told CNN's "State of the Union" that he should not be indicted.
"He's the four-star general of our generation," she said, lauding his role in suppressing an al Qaeda fuelled sectarian conflict in Iraq, similar to one gripping the country today.
"He, I think, is a very brilliant man. People aren't perfect. He made a mistake. He lost his job as a CIA director because of it. I mean, how much do you want to punish somebody?"
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