McCain: Apparent DOJ leak violates Petraeus’s rights

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.”