Feinstein: Petraeus has 'suffered enough'

[mystery-ak]

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/229139-feinstein-petraeus-has-suffered-enough

January 11, 2015, 09:25 am
Feinstein: Petraeus has 'suffered enough'
By Elise Viebeck

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) expressed discomfort Sunday with recommendations that former CIA Director David Petraeus face criminal charges for allegedly passing classified information to his one-time mistress.

"This man has suffered enough in my view," Feinstein said on CNN's "State of the Union." "He lost his job as CIA director because of it. How much do we want to punish somebody?"
The comment puts Feinstein in agreement with Republican Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who on Saturday blasted Petraeus's "callous treatment" by the FBI and the Justice Department.

"While the facts of the case involving General David Petraeus remain unknown and are not suitable for comment, it is clear that this investigation has been grievously mishandled," the two senators said in a statement Saturday.

News of the FBI's investigation was leaked to The New York Times on Friday. The decision whether to seek an indictment against Petraeus ultimately lies with Attorney General Eric Holder.

Feinstein repeated Sunday that "people aren't perfect."

Petraeus "made a mistake," she said on CNN. "But … it's done, it's over. He's retired. He's lost his job. How much does the government want?"

[mystery-ak]

January 11, 2015, 10:46 am
McCain: Apparent DOJ leak violates Petraeus's rights
By Elise Viebeck

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) blasted the Justice Department on Sunday for apparently leaking a recommendation for criminal charges against former CIA Director David Petraeus.

McCain, a longtime proponent of the former four-star general, said the apparent leak to The New York Times on Friday violated Petraeus's rights.

"Is it appropriate to leak information that is supposed to be kept sealed until the decision [about seeking an indictment] is make?" McCain asked on CNN's "State of the Union."

"It's a violation of any citizen's rights to have that information leaked, much less a man that is a genuine American hero."

McCain added that he doesn't know if Petraeus is "guilty or innocent" of sharing classified information with a former mistress at the time of their affair. But he kept up strong criticism of how the investigation was handled.

"While the facts of the case involving General David Petraeus remain unknown and are not suitable for comment, it is clear that this investigation has been grievously mishandled," McCain said in a statement Saturday with Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).

Attorney General Eric Holder, who will ultimately decide whether to seek an indictment against Petraeus, said Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union" that what many characterize as leaks are "frequently inaccurate."

[massadvj]

Once you get to the highest echelons of power, the establishment erects walls around you on a bipartisan basis.  It was why Nixon was pardoned, why Clinton was not convicted, why the Dems never went after GWB as a war criminal, and why OPapaDoc will never pay for his crimes.  What Feinstein and McCain are basically saying is that Petraeus is "in the club."

That doesn't necessarily mean I think he should be prosecuted.  It is merely an observation that people in power consider themselves above the law and stick together on a bipartisan basis when it comes to protecting each other.  It is exactly the kind of thing our constitution was supposed to protect us from.

[Right_in_Virginia]

I just don't understand why this administration is still going after him.  What's the gain?

[massadvj]

I just don't understand why this administration is still going after him.  What's the gain?

1. makes the Democrat base happy (they hate Patraeus).
2. helps distract the rank and file in intelligence community from focusing on its problems with the administration.
3. distracts the public from whatever might be coming down the pike in the future.
4. satisfies the prosecutors inside Justice who are no doubt pushing Holder to indict.