Holder on Petraeus investigation: it will be conducted fairly

WASHINGTON, Jan. 11 (UPI) -- Attorney General Eric Holder said Sunday the investigation into former CIA director and retired Gen. David Petraeus will be conducted fairly.

The FBI and the Department of Justice have recommended charging Petraeus with leaking classified information to his former lover, biographer Pamela Broadwell. He allegedly gave her access to his CIA email account and other classified information during their affair. The details of the investigation were first reported by the New York Times.

Senators have voiced their support of Petraeus and have pushed back against the calls for the disgraced director to be formally charged.

"It is outrageous that the highly confidential and law enforcement-sensitive recommendation of prosecutors to bring charges against Gen. Petraeus was leaked to The New York Times. It is a shameful continuation of a pattern in which leaks by unnamed sources have marred this investigation in contravention to fundamental fairness," said Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., the vice chairman of Senate Intelligence Committee, told CNN's State of the Union Petraeus has "suffered enough."

"It's done, it's over. He's retired. He's lost his job," she said. "I mean, how much does government want?"

Holder responded to the senators' concerns during an appearance on ABC's This Week with George Stephanopoulos.

"I can't really comment on what is an ongoing matter. But I will say that I share those concerns expressed by two senators who I have a great deal of respect for," he said. "But I also want to assure them and the American people that any investigation that is ongoing will be done in a fair and a -- and an appropriate way."

Holder has declined to comment on whether the Justice Department is pursuing charges against Petraeus.